🔬 Discovery

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
🕸️ View in the graph

Built on

Made possible

  • Mg-Pr alloys

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