a mixture of the metallic rare earths neodymium and praseodymium, once thought to be an element
2.
a mixture of rare earths and their oxides used in colouring glass
Word origin
C19: from New Latin, from Greek didumos twin + -ium
didymium in American English
(daɪˈdɪmiəm)
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
Word origin
ModL: so named (1841) by C. G. Mosander (see lanthanum) < Gr didymos, twin (because assoc. with lanthanum) + -ium