Element Family
Lanthanide
Transition Metal
Space Group Name
P63/mmc
P63/mmc
Interesting Facts
- Cerium is a rare earth metal but still it is not rare at all.
- It’s non-toxic compound Cerium sulfide has a rich red color and it is used as a pigment.
- Cerium metal is also used in Flat screen TVs, light bulb, floodlights, etc.
- Hafnium metal is highly reactive, hence not found free in nature.
- Hafnium metal as predicated after Mendeleev finished his periodic table.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
By-product Zirconium Refining
Who Discovered
Martin Heinrich Klaproth, Jöns Jakob Berzelius, Wilhelm Hisinger
Dirk Coster and George de Hevesy
Discovery
In 1803
In 1922
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Uses & Benefits
- It is used to include flints for cigarette lighters.
- Its compound Cerium (Ill) Oxide is used as a catalyst; it is put inside the walls of the oven as it prevents from the buildup of cooking residues.
- It has an ability to absorb neutrons and hence it is used to make control rods in nuclear submarines. And this metal is also used in Plasma welding torches.
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It alloys with iron, titanium and niobium are very useful.
Industrial Uses
Chemical Industry
Ammunition Industry
Medical Uses
Medical Research
-
Other Uses
Alloys
Alloys, In Nuclear Reactors, Nuclear Research, Research Purposes
Toxicity
Moderately Toxic
Toxic
Present in Human Body
Yes
No
Physical State
Solid
Solid
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Pauling Electropositivity
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Chemical Stability, Anti Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Anti Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2
[Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2
Crystal Structure
Double Hexagonal Close Packed (DHCP)
Hexagonal Close Packed (HCP)
Crystal Lattice
DHCP-Crystal-Structure-of-Cerium.jpg#100
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile, Malleable
Ductile, Malleable
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Paramagnetic
Electrical Property
Conductor
Conductor