Praseodymium is a chemical element with symbol Pr and atomic number 59. Praseodymium is a soft, silvery, malleable and ductile metal in the lanthanide group. It is valued for its magnetic, electrical, chemical, and optical properties.
Three reasons Praseodymium stands out
- 1
Used in magnets and high temperature alloys.
- 2
Goggles for glassblowers are tinted with its compounds to filter out the intense yellow-orange glare of molten glass.
- 3
Its vivid yellow compounds are used as a pigment in ceramic tiles and heat-resistant glass.
Green glass and powerful magnets
Praseodymium compounds lend glass a yellow-green color and help make goggles that filter the fierce light of glassworking. In alloys with neodymium, the element contributes to high-strength permanent magnets. Its name refers to the “leek-green twin,” a nod to both color and chemical kinship.