Definition

A soft, silvery metal that is part of the rare-earth elements. It is used to color glass and ceramics and is found in nature with other rare earths.

Example

Praseodymium is often used in the production of high-strength alloys.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of praseodymium?

I think so, but I’m not sure what it is exactly.

It's a rare-earth element used in coloring glass, among other things.

Oh, that’s interesting! I had no idea it was used that way.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Praseodymium is formed from "praseo-" (from Greek "prasios", meaning leek green) and "dysprosium" (from Greek "dysprositos", meaning hard to get). The word refers to the element that has a green color, as indicated by the first part, and is related to the element dysprosium, which is difficult to obtain.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for 'leek green' ('prasios') to remember that praseodymium is named for its green color.

Visually Confused Words