Praseodymium
Praseodimio (Pr, Z=59)
- Date
- 1885 · confidence high
- Place
- Vienna, Austria
- Credited to
- Carl Auer von Welsbach
- People
- 👤 Carl Gustaf Mosander1797–1858
- Field
- Matter & energy
What was discovered
Auer separated Mosander's 'didymium' into two elements by repeated fractional crystallisation: praseodymium (green) and neodymium.
The name comes from the Greek 'prasios didymos', green twin.
What it led to
- Glassblower's protective goggle glass
- Magnets and aerospace magnesium alloys
- Optical fibre amplifiers
Built on
- Didymium1841
- Fractional crystallisation
Made possible
- Mg-Pr alloys