(Gr. neos, new, and didymos, twin) Discovered by Welsbach in 1885, along with praseodymium, but not isolated until 1925. Found in misch metal, used for lighter flints.
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rare earth metal, silvery, metallic luster, reactive, quickly tarnishes in air, stored in mineral oil, two allotropic forms, moderate toxicity
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used for coloring glass, alone it colors glass violet, gray and wine shades, used in astronomy to calibrate spectral lines, lasers (to produce coherent light)