didymium

(dī dimē əm)

noun

  1. a rare metal, formerly considered an element but later found to be a mixture of rare-earth elements neodymium and praseodymium: symbol, Di: the name is still used for naming oxides and salts
  2. any commercial mixture of rare-earth elements found in monazite sand

Origin: ModL: so named (1841) by C. G. Mosander (see lanthanum) < Gr didymos, twin (because assoc. with lanthanum) + -ium

See didymium in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Symbol Di A metallic mixture, once considered an element, composed of neodymium and praseodymium.
  2. A mixture of rare-earth elements and oxides used chiefly in manufacturing and coloring various forms of glass.

Origin:

Origin: From Greek didumos, twin, double; see dwo- in Indo-European roots

.

link/cite print suggestion box