Cerium

Our friend, Cerium, was discovered in 1803 by two latin sciencists named J.J. Bezelius and Wilhem Von Hisiner. The element was discovered in a very impure state, so it was hard to deturmine what it was. When it was identified it was then named after Ceres, an astrode that was discovered two years earlyer, in 1801.

Properties-

Symbol:

Ce

Atomic number:

58

Mass number:

140.12

Density:

6.77

Melting point:

789 C

Valence of electrons:

2

Family:

Lanthaides

Cerium is a dull, sivery colored metal that is formed by electrosis of choride or reduction of the fused fluorid with calcium or a split nuclear. It reacts to water, heat, and acids (see hazards for more). Cerous salts are usally white and Ceric slats are orangish-red or orange.

Uses-

Cerium may be so called "rare", but it is found in every day life such as glasses and a core for carbon electrodes of lamps found around the house. Cerium is also used as a componet of misch metal, used as a flint forcigarette lighters. It is also used for self cleaning ovens and other types of alloys like glass.

Hazzards-

Be careful when around the following: water, heat, and acids. Also be sure and don't swallow it.

Glossary-

~componets: A part of something that comes together with other things to make something else.

~misch metal: An alloy used to make flammable substances.

~Ceres: (link for more information)

~abundent: Having a large suppy of something.

~alloy: An element that is interminged with another element.

Bibliography-

imformation refrences

Chemicool-periodic table-cerium http://www.chemicool.com/elements/cerium.html

EmviromentalChemistry.com-cerium http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Ce.html

Periodic Table of Elements-cerium http://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/elements/58.html