Welsbach, << WEHLZ bak or VEHLS bahk, >> Baron von (1858-1929), was an Austrian chemist and pioneer in artificial lighting. He is noted chiefly as the inventor of a gaslight called the Welsbach mantle. He also invented the osmium filament for electric lamps and isolated the lanthanide elements neodymium and praseodymium from the so-called element didymium.
Welsbach was born Carl Auer in Vienna, and studied chemistry at the University of Heidelberg. Later, he attended the University of Vienna.
See also Neodymium ; Praseodymium .
