Atomic Number: 58 Period Number: 6 Group Number: none
Cerium is one of the rare earth elements. It is a soft and active metal and can be oxidized at room temperature. It helps to make about 0.0046% of earth's crust and has 4 stable isotopes in nature: 136Ce, 138 Ce, 140Ce, 142Ce. Among them, 142 Ce occupies 88.48% of nature abundance.
Cerium has been used as catalysts and additives. The pure metal may ignite when scratched with a knife.Cerium compounds have widely uses in industry, such as making glass, catalytic converter, etc. Cerium Oxide is one of the great catalytic agents for the reduction of CO emission in the gas of motor vehicle; It also can be used in making glass because of its high refractive index.
Physical and chemical properties:
Atomic Weight: 140.116
Melting Point: 1071 K
Boiling Point: 3697 K
Density: 6.770 g/cm3
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Metal
Ionization Energy: 5.539 eV
Oxidation States: +4, +3
