Cerium is a silvery-white metal that is part of the lanthanide series of elements and has a number of important uses in industry and science.
Sources of Cerium: Cerium is obtained from minerals such as monazite and bastnasite, which are found in several countries, including China, India, and the United States.
Uses of Cerium:
Catalysts: Cerium is used as a catalyst in the production of petroleum and in the refining of petroleum products.
Glass production: Cerium is added to glass to improve its optical properties, such as refractive index and dispersion.
Energy production: Cerium is used in some forms of energy production, such as in batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles.
Polishing: Cerium is used in polishing compounds for a variety of materials, including glass and metal.
Properties of Cerium:
Density: Cerium has a density of 6.77 g/cm3.
Melting point: The melting point of cerium is 798°C.
Chemical reactivity: Cerium is a reactive metal that readily forms compounds with other elements.
Solubility: Cerium is soluble in some solvents, such as water, but is otherwise insoluble in most solvents.
Extraction of Cerium: Cerium is extracted from its minerals through a series of chemical processes, including acid leaching, purification, and crystallization. The purified cerium is then packaged for use in industry or science.