What is Cerium?
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Cerium is a rare earth element which has a number of uses, especially in metallurgy. Consumers generally interact with the element in the form of a product component, and several isotopes and cerium compounds are also used in manufacturing. This element has been deemed mildly toxic, and it can be dangerous under certain conditions; people who work with cerium are generally trained in how to safely handle it, and how to recognize markers of dangerous levels of exposure.
In appearance, cerium can look a great deal like lead. It is iron-gray in color with a faint luster and it is highly malleable. Cerium also has three other allotropic states, meaning that it takes different pure forms depending on conditions like pressure and temperature. It is identified with the symbol Ce on the periodic table of elements, and it has an atomic number of 58. In addition to being considered a rare earth element, cerium is also a lanthanoid, sharing characteristics like high reactivity, including flammability, along with high boiling and melting points, with a group of other elements.
The discovery of cerium is credited separately to J.J. Berzelius and Wilhelm Hisinger in Sweden and M.H. Klaproth in Germany in 1803. Berzelius named the element after the asteroid Ceres, which was first observed in 1801. However, it took another 72 years to successfully isolate the element, since the technology to do so did not exist when cerium was first identified. Cerium was also discovered to be a rather abundant rare earth element, appearing in many minerals and ores.
Commercially, cerium is used in metalworking, nuclear applications, glass, and enameling. It is also commonly used in the flints for lighters, since pure cerium will catch fire if it is scratched. The element can be extracted from the minerals which is naturally appears in, along with the ores that it tends to mingle with. Cerium also appears to be a byproduct of nuclear fission. Compounds and oxides of cerium are used in chemistry and cleaning products, among other things.
The reactivity of cerium can make it dangerous to handle, especially since it emits toxic fumes when it is set on fire. The element also reacts with water, and it has been known to cause itchy skin, lesions, and heat sensitivity. It can also sometimes contain traces of radioactive material if it has not been fully purified, which can pose a risk to people to handle cerium.
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllTheScience researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllTheScience researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
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![Cerium is identified with the symbol Ce on the periodic table of elements, and it has an atomic number of 58.]()
By: jelena zaricCerium is identified with the symbol Ce on the periodic table of elements, and it has an atomic number of 58. -
![People who work with cerium must be trained in proper safety protocols and use certain equipment to avoid industrial exposure.]()
By: DestonianPeople who work with cerium must be trained in proper safety protocols and use certain equipment to avoid industrial exposure. -
![Cerium is named after the dwarf planet Ceres, first identified in the 1800s as an asteroid.]()
Cerium is named after the dwarf planet Ceres, first identified in the 1800s as an asteroid.
Discussion Comments
One of the other major uses of cerium is as cerium oxide. It is used in making catalytic converters for cars, since the molecules can somehow combine with carbon monoxide.
I'm not sure if there are any other uses, but it definitely does seem like cerium is one of the forgotten elements that does a lot for us, but we usually don't read much about.
Where in the world is cerium usually found? Are there places where it is most common, or can it be found everywhere?
@TreeMan - I don't have any idea if this is how cerium was finally isolated, since I don't know if the methods existed by that time, but now when they separate rare earth metals from ore they mix the ores with a variety of acids that precipitate out all of the different elements. I was reading about it a few weeks ago. Apparently the chemicals used are very toxic and the process can be very harmful for the environment if everything isn't disposed of correctly.
I always think it is interesting to read about these elements that you don't hear about everyday, but are still very important to us.
I'm wondering, though, if the scientists at the beginning of the 19th century weren't able to isolate cerium, how were they sure that it existed? How did they finally isolate cerium?
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