Neodymium

Neodymium is the magnet king of the periodic table. Neodymium magnets are the strongest permanent magnets known to science — a small neodymium magnet can lift over a thousand times its own weight! Discovered in 1885 by Carl Auer von Welsbach (the same year he found praseodymium), neodymium's name means 'new twin' in Greek.

Neodymium magnets are everywhere in modern life: headphones, speakers, electric motors in cars and wind turbines, hard drives, and MRI machines all use them. Neodymium is also used to create the bright purple-pink color in some glass and ceramics, and special neodymium-doped glass is used in high-power lasers. The demand for neodymium is growing rapidly due to electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Neodymium's symbol 'Nd' is a distinctive two-letter element in Spellement. While 'nd' commonly appears at the end of English words, partial emphasis lets spellers use 'n' or 'd' individually, both common consonants that provide excellent flexibility for creative word building.