Cerium

Cerium This is cerium.
Symbol	Ce
Atomic number	58
Atomic mass	140.12 amu

Cerium was discovered in 1803.

Occurrence

It is the most abundant of the rare-earth elements. It occurs naturally in monazite sands. It is the key ingredient of Misch-metal alloy.

• 

  Chemical composition: (Ce, La, Y, Th)(PO₄)
  A widely occurring mineral containing metals of the rare-earth series. Monazite is a phosphate (containing a PO₄^3- group) of the radioactive elements, especially:
  • thorium
  • cerium
  • lanthanum
  • yttrium

Usage

Alloys containing cerium are used to make heat-resistant jet-engine parts. Oxides of cerium are also promising candidates for new petroleum-cracking catalysts.

See also

Periodic table of the elements