Pr
Praseodymium
Element 59 · Lanthanide
Praseodymium (Pr)
Praseodymium is a soft, silvery rare-earth metal. It is used in powerful magnets and gives glass a yellow-green tint.
- Lanthanide
- Period 6
- f-block series
- f-block
- solid at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 140.9077
- u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f3 6s2
- Melting point
- 930.9 °C
- 1,204 K
- Boiling point
- 3,519.9 °C
- 3,793 K
- Density
- 6.77 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 1.13
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 239 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 5.464 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about praseodymium
- 01
It was separated from “didymium”, which was thought to be a single element.
- 02
Welders’ and glassblowers’ goggles use didymium glass that contains praseodymium.
- 03
Praseodymium–nickel alloy was used to reach temperatures within a thousandth of a degree of absolute zero.
Applications
What is praseodymium used for?
- Permanent magnets
- Aircraft engine alloys
- Coloured glass and enamel
- Protective goggles
History
Discovery & name origin
Discovered by
Year
Where
Austria
Name origin
Greek prasios didymos, “green twin”.
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 59
- Atomic mass
- 140.9077 u
- Group
- Lanthanides (3)
- Period
- 6
- Block
- f-block
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f3 6s2
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f3
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 21, 8, 2
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.13
- Electron affinity
- —
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 239 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 1
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (+3).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st527
- 2nd1,020
- 3rd2,086
- 4th3,761
- 5th5,551
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Melting point
- 1,204 K · 930.9 °C · 1,707.5 °F
- Boiling point
- 3,793 K · 3,519.9 °C · 6,367.7 °F
- Density
- 6.77 g/cm³
- Molar heat capacity
- 27.2 J/(mol·K)
- Appearance
- Greyish white
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Praseodymium questions
What is Pr on the periodic table?
Pr is the symbol for praseodymium, element 59 on the periodic table. It sits in period 6, in the f-block, in the lanthanide category, and has an atomic mass of 140.9077.
What is the atomic number of praseodymium?
Praseodymium has atomic number 59, so every praseodymium atom has 59 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Pr and its atomic mass is 140.9077.
Who discovered praseodymium?
Praseodymium was discovered by Carl Auer von Welsbach in 1885 (Austria). The name comes from Greek prasios didymos, “green twin”.
What is praseodymium used for?
Praseodymium is used for: permanent magnets; aircraft engine alloys; coloured glass and enamel; protective goggles.
Is praseodymium a metal?
Yes. Praseodymium is a lanthanide, one of the metallic elements.
What is the electron configuration of praseodymium?
The electron configuration of praseodymium is [Xe] 4f3 6s2. Its 59 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 21, 8, 2.