Praseodymium (Pr)

Praseodymium is a soft, silvery, malleable and ductile metal in the lanthanide group.

Core Principles & Analysis

• Carl Auer von Welsbach discovered praseodymium in 1885 when he split the supposed element didymium into two, naming it the 'green twin'.
• Its compounds are characteristically green and give didymium glass its ability to filter the yellow glare of sodium light.
• Praseodymium colors welders' and glassblowers' goggles, tints ceramics yellow, and strengthens magnesium alloys for aircraft engines.

Specifications & Metrics

• NUM: 59
• SYMBOL: Pr
• CATEGORY: Lanthanide
• ATOMIC MASS: 140.90766 u
• ELECTRONEGATIVITY: 1.13 Pauling
• ATOMIC RADIUS: 239 pm
• IONIZATION ENERGY: 5.464 eV
• MELTING POINT: 1204 K
• BOILING POINT: 3793 K
• DENSITY: 6.77 g/cm³
• ELECTRON CONFIGURATION: [Xe]6s2 4f3
• OXIDATION STATES: +3
• STANDARD STATE: Solid
• GROUP BLOCK: Lanthanide
• YEAR DISCOVERED: 1885