Atomic Number: 55 Period Number: 6 Group Number: 1
Cesium (Caesium) is a soft and silvery-gold metal, which belongs to the alkali group. Cesium is a very rare element and two main sources for cesium-containing ore is Canada and Zimbabwe. Cesium, which is mined mostly from pollucite, has a total of 39 known isotopes.
Cesium is used in photoelectric cells used to convert sunlight into electricity. The electrons in cesium atoms are stimulated by direct sunlight, and in photoelectric cells, these electrons flow to create an electric current. Cesium is an ideal catalyst for this photoelectric process.
Cesium compounds are widely used today for many manufacturing processes. Cesium graphite is used as a method of removing trace amounts of radioactive cesium from hot loops utilized in sodium-cooled reactors due to its relatively high heat. Cesium chloride is used as a phase transfer catalyst in organic chemistry. Cesium Carbonate is an important base used to synthesize various compounds in organic chemistry. Cesium Formate is used in the production of urethane products and Cesium Sulfate is added to catalysts for use in the production of sulfuric acid.
Physical and Chemical properties:
Atomic Weight: 132.9054519
Melting Point: 301.59 K
Boiling Point: 944 K
Density: 1.93 g/cm3
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Metal
Ionization Energy: 3.894 eV
Oxidation State: +1
