Neodymium is a chemical element with symbol Nd and atomic number 60. It is a soft silvery metal that tarnishes in air. Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by the Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach.
Three reasons Neodymium stands out
- 1
Found in strong permanent magnets used in headphones and motors.
- 2
Magnets made with this element are so powerful that small ones can pinch skin hard enough to draw blood.
- 3
It is used in high-powered lasers for nuclear fusion research experiments.
The magnet inside modern motion
Neodymium-iron-boron magnets pack extraordinary magnetic strength into small volumes. They sit inside headphones, hard drives, wind turbines, and electric-vehicle motors. Pure neodymium tarnishes quickly, so the useful magnet is a carefully engineered alloy with coatings that protect it from corrosion.