Praseodymium Uses

Praseodymium is a chemical element that exhibit metallic properties. In chemistry, it is identified with the symbol Pr. It is classified as a rare earth element and it belongs to the Lanthanide series of the periodic table.

History of Praseodymium

The credit for discovering praseodymium goes to renowned German chemist Carl F. Auer von Welsbach. He was working with a substance named didymium which was then considered as a metallic element. In 1885, he discovered that didymium is not one single element but is actually composed of two rare earth elements: neodymium and praseodymium. When he isolated praseodymium, he found it as a green powder. Then he derived the name praseodymium from the Greek words prasios which means green and didymos, which means 'twin'.

Facts About Praseodymium

There are a wide variety of mineral compounds found in nature that contains praseodymium. Among them, monazite and bastnasite are two of the main natural sources. It is extracted from these minerals with the help of solvent extraction method or ion-exchange method. As these ores have radioactive element like thorium in them, lots of precautionary measures are required while handling these ores for the extraction of the metal. Pure form of praseodymium can also be produced artificially.

In its pure form, praseodymium is identified as a soft metal which is silvery white in color. However, on exposure to air, it gets corroded easily and a green tarnish appear on its surface. To maintain its original color and characteristic, this metal is often stored in mineral oil or sealed containers. Like other metal, praseodymium is very ductile and malleable in nature.

Atomic number of praseodymium is 59. There are nine different isotopes of praseodymium found in nature, Among them, praseodymium 141 is the most stable form of this element. Besides, there are several man-made isotopes. So far, its total number of recognized isotopes is as many as 38. Most of the compounds of praseodymium are black in color with a tint of green or yellow in them.

Uses of Praseodymium

Some of the most commonly found praseodymium uses are as follows:

• Praseodymium is a component of an alloy named misch metal which is used for manufacturing cigarette lighters.
• It is used as an alloying agent in other stronger metal alloys that are being specially used for manufacturing aircraft engines. In these alloys, it is mostly used along with magnesium.
• The oxides of all praseodymium have excellent refractory property. For this reason, along with other rare earth metals, it is a part of the core material of carbon arc lights which are popularly used in movie industry for the purpose of projection and studio lighting.
• Salts of praseodymium have a major role in glass and enamel industry. Here, it is used with a few other substances to add an intense yellow color to the manufactured glasses and enamels.
• It is also used as a colorant in the making a special type of glass named didymium glass. This particular glass is required for making welder's and glass blower's goggles.
• Usually, neodymium is used in magnets. However, sometimes, neodymium is replaced by praseodymium as it is less costly.
• It is added to synthetic cubic zirconia to obtain a yellowish green color. This colored stone is then used for making jewelry.
• Besides various industrial uses, this element has some laboratory applications as well. It is alloyed with nickel and is used for conducting various important laboratory experiments.

These are the key praseodymium uses. In general, its toxicity is mild to moderate. However, inhalation of its dust or fumes could be hazardous for health. Therefore, when it is handled for various commercial uses, suitable safety measures are a must.