Element 59 · Lanthanide (Rare Earth)
Praseodymium
Praseodymium provides the green colour to rare-earth magnets for electric motors and certain glasses.
Element Facts
SYMBOL
Pr
ATOMIC NO.
59
ATOMIC WEIGHT
140.91
CATEGORY
Lanthanide (Rare Earth)
PERIOD
Period 6
GROUP
Group 3
History
Praseodymium was discovered in 1885 by Carl Auer von Welsbach, who separated it from “didymium” (a mixture previously thought to be a single element). Named from the Greek for “leek-green twin” because its salts are distinctively green. Von Welsbach also separated neodymium from the same mixture. Praseodymium oxide was historically used in yellow-orange colouring for ceramics and glass. Its modern strategic importance comes from NdPr (neodymium-praseodymium) alloys in permanent magnets.
In Brief
Praseodymium is element 59. The name means "green twin" in Greek, reflecting its green compounds and its discovery alongside neodymium in 1885.
Uses Today
Praseodymium-neodymium-iron-boron magnets for electric vehicle motors, wind turbine generators, and hard disk drives. Praseodymium oxide colours glass yellow-green and is used in welding goggles to filter UV light.
Why We Don't Buy It
Why QuickStop Metals doesn’t buy Praseodymium:
Same rare earth recovery limitations as other lanthanides — products containing praseodymium go to specialist rare earth recyclers, not general scrap.
Value & Pricing
Praseodymium oxide trades at approximately £40–80/kg. A critical material for EV motors and wind turbines as part of NdFeB magnet alloys. Not a standard scrap material — sourced from Chinese rare earth refining.