Element 60 · Neodymium (Nd)

Neodymium Bohr model: diagram and electrons per shell

The neodymium Bohr model shows a neodymium atom (Nd) as a small nucleus with its electrons circling it in 6 shells: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 22 in shell N, 8 in shell O and 2 in shell P. This page has a rotating 3D neodymium Bohr model, a flat diagram, a table of the electrons in each shell and the steps to draw it yourself.

Rotate the neodymium Bohr model in 3D

Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom.

This is a Bohr model of neodymium (Nd), a simplified picture of a single neodymium atom. Its nucleus holds 60 protons, and a neutral neodymium atom has 60 electrons, arranged around it in 6 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 22 in shell N, 8 in shell O and 2 in shell P).

Nd K · 21s² L · 82s² 2p⁶ M · 183s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ N · 224s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f⁴ O · 85s² 5p⁶ P · 26s²

Neodymium Bohr model diagram

Bohr model diagram of neodymium: a nucleus of 60 protons with 60 electrons on 6 shells, 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 22 in shell N, 8 in shell O and 2 in shell P, each ring labelled with its shell letter. — The neodymium Bohr model drawn flat: each ring is a shell, labelled with its letter, and every dot is an electron (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 22 in shell N, 8 in shell O and 2 in shell P).

Neodymium electrons per shell

A neutral neodymium atom has 60 electrons, one for each of its 60 protons. They fill the shells from the nucleus outwards: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 22 in shell N, 8 in shell O and 2 in shell P.

Electrons in each shell of the neodymium Bohr model
Shell	Shell number (n)	Electrons	Most it can hold (2n²)	Subshells
K	1	2	2	1s²
L	2	8	8	2s² 2p⁶
M	3	18	18	3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰
N	4	22	32	4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f⁴
O	5	8	50	5s² 5p⁶
P	6	2	72	6s²

How the neodymium Bohr model builds up, shell by shell

Watch the neodymium Bohr model come together: the nucleus first, then each shell in turn, from the innermost outwards, with its electrons joining the ring. The legend names every shell and counts its electrons, so you can read off the arrangement (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 22 in shell N, 8 in shell O and 2 in shell P) as it forms.

Animation of the neodymium Bohr model being built: a nucleus of 60 protons appears first, then each shell grows in around it and takes its electrons, giving 60 electrons on 6 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 22 in shell N, 8 in shell O and 2 in shell P). — The neodymium Bohr model built up in six seconds: the nucleus first, then each shell with its electrons, ending with 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 22 in shell N, 8 in shell O and 2 in shell P. Protons are red, neutrons yellow and electrons blue.

How to draw the neodymium Bohr model

Find the atomic number. Neodymium has atomic number 60, so a neutral atom has 60 protons and 60 electrons.
Draw the nucleus. Put a circle in the centre and write Nd in it. The 60 protons sit there with the neutrons.
Draw the shells. Sketch 6 shells as rings around the nucleus. A shell holds at most 2n² electrons: 2 in the first, 8 in the second, 18 in the third and 32 in the fourth.
Place the electrons. Fill from the inside out: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 22 in shell N, 8 in shell O and 2 in shell P.
Check the total. 2 + 8 + 18 + 22 + 8 + 2 = 60, the atomic number, so every electron is accounted for.

Atomic data for the neodymium Bohr model

The numbers behind the neodymium Bohr model, grouped by topic. Radii are in picometres (pm) and energies in kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol).

Identity

Symbol: Nd
Atomic number: 60
Atomic mass: 144.2423 u
Family: Lanthanides
Position: period 6 of the f-block
Block: f-block

Electron configuration

Full: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f⁴
Shorthand: [Xe] 4f⁴ 6s²
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 22, 8, 2
Outer-shell electrons: 2 in shell P

Ionisation energies

I₁: 533.1
I₂: 1040
I₃: 2130
I₄: 3900

Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). A sharp jump means the next electron comes from an inner shell.

Atomic radii

Calculated (pm): 206
Empirical (pm): 185
Covalent (pm): 174

Electronegativity and electron affinity

Electronegativity (Pauling): 1.14
Electron affinity (kJ/mol): 184.87

Oxidation states

Charges the element commonly takes in compounds.

Physical properties, abundance and history of neodymium

Bulk properties of neodymium, how common it is, who discovered it and some of its compounds.

Physical properties

Phase at room conditions: Solid
Appearance: Silvery white
Melting point: 1023.85°C (1297 K)
Boiling point: 3073.85°C (3347 K)
Density: 7.01 g/cm³
Specific heat (J/g·K): 0.19
Molar heat capacity (J/mol·K): 27.45
Heat of fusion (kJ/mol): 7.1
Heat of vaporisation (kJ/mol): 289

Abundance

Earth's crust (mg/kg): 41.5
Oceans (mg/L): 0

Discovery

Discovered by: Carl Auer von Welsbach
Year: 1885

Common compounds

Neodymium trichloride Cl3Nd
Neodymium Nd
Neodymium Bromide (ndbr3) Br3Nd
Neodymium fluoride (NdF3) F3Nd
Neodymium nitrate HNNdO3
Neodymium nitrate hexahydrate H12N3NdO15
Neodymium iodide (NdI3) I3Nd
Neodymium nitride (NdN) NNd

Compounds listed in the PubChem database.

Main isotopes of neodymium

Isotopes of neodymium share the same 60 protons but differ in neutrons. Natural isotopes come first, then the longest-lived others.

Main isotopes of neodymium: mass number, abundance, half-life and decay
Mass number	Natural abundance	Half-life	Decay
142	27.153 %	stable	–
143	12.173 %	stable	–
144	23.798 %	2.29 Py	α
145	8.293 %	stable	α
146	17.189 %	stable	2β⁻, α
148	5.756 %	stable	2β⁻, α

α = alpha decay, β⁻ = beta-minus, β⁺ = beta-plus, EC = electron capture, SF = spontaneous fission, p / n = proton / neutron emission.

More about neodymium

Neodymium on the periodic table – properties, isotopes, uses and the full neodymium page.
Lanthanides – all lanthanide elements and their trends.
Bohr model of every element – the Bohr model of all 118 elements.