Cerium

Cerium is a chemical element with the symbol Ce and atomic number 58. It is a soft, silvery, ductile metal which easily oxidizes in air. Cerium was named after the dwarf planet [|Ceres] (itself named for the Roman goddess of agriculture). Cerium is the most abundant of the rare earth elements, making up about 0.0046% of the Earth's crust by weight. It is found in a number of minerals, the most important being monazite and bastnasite. Commercial applications of cerium are numerous. They include catalysts, additives to fuel to reduce emissions and to glass and enamels to change their color. Cerium oxide is an important component of glass polishing powders and phosphors used in screens and fluorescent lamps.
 * Name:** Cerium
 * Symbol:** Ce
 * Atomic Number:** 58
 * Atomic Mass:** 140.116 amu
 * Melting Point:** 795.0 °C (1068.15 K, 1463.0 °F)
 * Boiling Point:** 3257.0 °C (3530.15 K, 5894.6 °F)
 * Number of Protons/Electrons:** 58
 * Number of Neutrons:** 82
 * Classification:** Rare Earth
 * Crystal Structure:** Cubic
 * Density @ 293 K:** 6.773 g/cm3
 * Color:** gray


 * Number of Energy Levels:** 6
 * First Energy Level:**2
 * Second Energy Level:**8
 * Third Energy Level:**18
 * Fourth Energy Level:**20
 * Fifth Energy Level:**8
 * Sixth Energy Level:**2

Isotopes

 * ** Isotope ** || ** Half Life ** ||
 * Ce-134 || 3016.0 days ||
 * Ce-136 || Stable ||
 * Ce-138 || Stable ||
 * Ce-139 || 137.6 days ||
 * Ce-140 || Stable ||
 * Ce-141 || 32.5 days ||
 * Ce-142 || Stable ||
 * Ce-143 || 1.4 days ||
 * Ce-144 || 284.6 days ||

Facts

 * Date of Discovery:** 1803
 * Discoverer:** W. von Hisinger
 * Name Origin:** Ceres (asteroid)
 * Uses:** heat-resistant alloys
 * Obtained From:** monazite

Pure cerium will ignite if it is scratched with a sharp object, but can be safely used if combined with other materials. Cerium is one of the rare earth elements used to make carbon arc lights which are used in the motion picture industry for studio lighting and projector lights. Cerium is also a component of Misch metal, a material that is used to make flints for lighters. Cerium is also used as a catalyst to refine petroleum and as an alloying agent to make special metals.

Cerium is a light silver, ductile metal which can be easily oxidized in air. It is a rare earth element with a chemical symbol of Ce and is most abundant of all rare earth elements.



This ductile metal is obtained today by an ion exchange process from monazite sand, which is abundant in rare earth metals.

Used in permanent magnets and in the motion picture industry for carbon-arc lighting. Serves no known biological function, however it does have a mild toxicity level.


 * Name:** Cerium
 * Symbol:** Ce
 * Atomic Number:** 58
 * Atomic Mass:** 140.116 amu
 * Melting Point:** 795.0 °C (1068.15 K, 1463.0 °F)
 * Boiling Point:** 3257.0 °C (3530.15 K, 5894.6 °F)
 * Number of Protons/Electrons:** 58
 * Number of Neutrons:** 82
 * Crystal Structure:** Cubic
 * Density @ 293 K:** 6.773 g/cm3
 * Color:** gray


 * Date of Discovery:** 1803
 * Discoverer:** W. von Hisinger
 * Name Origin:** Ceres (asteroid)
 * Uses:** heat-resistant alloys
 * Obtained From:** monazite


 * Uses of Cerium**
 * component of misch metal, used in the manufacture of pyrophoric alloys for cigarette lighters, etc.
 * the oxide is an important constituent of incandescent gas mantles and is a catalyst in "self-cleaning" ovens. In this application it is incorporated into oven walls to prevent the collection of cooking residues
 * the sulphate is used extensively as a volummetric oxidizing agent in quantitative analysis
 * used in the manufacture of glass, both as a component and as a decolourizer
 * the oxide is used as a glass polishing agent instead of rouge, as it is much faster at polishing glass surfaces
 * used in carbon-arc lighting with other rare-earth elements, especially in the motion picture industry
 * used as a catalyst in petroleum refining
 * metallurgical and nuclear applications

Cerium also makes compounds that are salts: Cerium(IV) (ceric) salts are orange red or yellowish, whereas cerium(III) (cerous) salts are usually white or colorless. These compounds can be used to make clear, colorless glass. The interesting thing about these classes is that they absorb ultraviolet light almost completely because the salt compounds themselves are strong in ultra violet light absorption.