Neodymium was identified in 1885 by the Austrian scientist, Carl Welsbach. Through his work with the 'element' Didymium he identified Neodymium and Praseodymium as the two elements that make up this compound. Neodymium was named after 'neos didymos' the Ancient Greek for new twin. Neodymium is used in the production of permanent magnets with boron and iron, these magnets have a wide range of uses in computers and mobile phones. Neodymium is not found in the earth's crust as a free element but in the minerals monazite and bastnaesite. It is a solid metal at room temperature with a melting point of 1024°c and a boiling point of 3074°c.