Solvent extraction from mixed rare earths with HDEHP; NdF3 is reduced with Ca metal at ~1000 °C for metal, most of which goes into NdFeB magnets.
Research Elements Nd · atomic number 60 Lanthanide · period 6 [Xe] 4f4 6s2 Shells: 2, 8, 18, 22, 8, 2 Valence electrons: 2 in the outer shell (6s2), and 4 in 4f4 Green dots are the outer shell's s and p electrons. Softer green dots are the d electrons of transition metals, and the d and f electrons of lanthanides and actinides: they often take part in bonding, but not always. Grey dots are the core. Ground-state configuration from the NIST Atomic Spectra Database (A. Kramida, Yu. Ralchenko, J. Reader and the NIST ASD Team). Abundance is the mole fraction of the element found as that isotope on Earth; digits in parentheses are the uncertainty in the last digits. Masses and abundances from NIST, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (J. S. Coursey, D. J. Schwab, J. J. Tsai and R. A. Dragoset, National Institute of Standards and Technology).Neodymium
Electrons
How it's obtained
Natural isotopes
Isotope Relative atomic mass Abundance 142Nd 141.9077290(20) 0.27152(40) 143Nd 142.9098200(20) 0.12174(26) 144Nd 143.9100930(20) 0.23798(19) 145Nd 144.9125793(20) 0.08293(12) 146Nd 145.9131226(20) 0.17189(32) 148Nd 147.9168993(26) 0.05756(21) 150Nd 149.9209022(18) 0.05638(28)