What Is Cerium Definition Electronic Configuration Oxidation States and Uses
Cerium is a metal in grey and shimmering radiant. The symbol of Cerium is Ce in the periodic table and the atomic number is 58. It is one most abundant element of the rare earth elements and the 2nd most active lanthanide after europium and 25th most-abundant element with approx 0.0046% of Earth’s crust weight. It is soft but a little harder than lead. It is found in lanthanides. It contains 82 neutrons and 58 protons and 58 electrons. It is radioactive in nature as its number of neutrons is greater than the number of protons.
Cerium is found in allanite, monazite, bastnaesite, and other minerals also. For commercial purposes, it is prepared by the reduction of the fused fluoride with calcium.
Analytical techniques such as atomic absorption or emission spectrophotometry are used for the determination of cerium. Some of the other techniques are ICP-AES, stripping voltammetry, and involve high cost.
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Discovery of Cerium
Cerium has been discovered in the year 1803 by Jons Jacob Berzelius and Wilhelm Hisinger.
Properties of Cerium
Malleable - can be shaped accordingly by beating with a hammer or by the pressure.
Ductile - can be drawn out into wire.
Ignite – Burn if it is scratched with a sharp object.
Moderately toxic.
Highly reactive with bases, acids, hydrogen gas, and other metals.
Oxidizes slowly in cold water and quickly in hot water.
It is slightly harder than lead and is iron-grey in colour.
It is highly reactive and tarnishes readily in the air and it can dissolve in the acid.
It oxidizes readily in the water ( slowly in cold water and rapidly in the hot water )
It can be burned heated or scratched with a knife
CE Periodic Table
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What is Ce on the Periodic Table
Ionization Energies of Cerium
1st Ionization energy / kJ mol-1 is 534.41
2nd Ionization energy / kJ mol-1: 1046.87
3rd Ionization energy / kJ mol-1: 1948.82
4th Ionization energy / kJ mol-1: 3546.608
Cerium Uses
The world’s production of cerium is 23000 tonnes a year and is likely to increase in the future as the use of cerium is increasing day by day in our lives. The top 3 producers in the world are China, Russia, and Malaysia. Cerium is used commercially in industries as well as in household equipment.
It is used in low-energy light bulbs
It is used in cigarettes lighters
It is used in colour screen TVs
It is used in chromium plating
It is used in nuclear reactor
It is used in Lasers
It is used in microwave devices
It is used in aluminium and iron alloys
It is used in stainless steel as a hardening agent
It is used gas mantles, in gas lighting
It is used glass polishing agent
It is used to clean up exhaust vehicles through the catalyst of catalytic converters
It is used in making pigments for containers, toys, household wares and crates
It is used as the core of the carbon electrode in the arc lamp
It also catalysis the reduction of the nitrogen oxide to nitrogen gas
It is also used in the catalytic converter which consists of a ceramic or a metal substrate along with aluminium and is installed in every new car
Health Effects
Various health problems are caused by cerium. Nowadays more and more of the cerium is being used and using it in the working environment is almost dangerous because it is highly reactive in the air. The harmful damps and gasses can be inhaled with air through the respiratory system and if it accumulates in the human body, it can be a threat to the liver, lungs, especially during exposure for a long time and will also have a harmful effect if present for a short time also. It can also cause lung embolisms. It has also been noted that cerium stimulates salt metabolism and cerium also has no noted biological effect.
Environmental Effects
Cerium is environmentally undesirable. It accumulates in soil and water and thus can lead to intense concentrations in humans, animals, and in soil particles. Cerium is dumped by petrol-producing industries. It is thrown away by households also in various equipment when cerium enters the equipment. Cerium causes damage to cell membranes in water animals that can affect reproduction and nervous systems badly and have several negative influences on reproduction.
On a positive note, cerium is used as a catalyst. Cerium is used in catalytic converters to improve the atmosphere wherever diesel engines operate. Ceramic filters burn the particulates and carbon particles emitted by diesel engines. It catalyses the burning of the particulate and eliminates them.
Little cerium oxide can be added to the fuel itself so that it can catalyse the burning of the particulates and abolish them.
FAQs on Cerium Element in Chemistry Definition Properties and Applications
1. What is cerium?
Cerium is a chemical element with the symbol Ce and atomic number 58, belonging to the lanthanide series of rare earth elements. It is a soft, silvery metal that oxidizes readily in air. Cerium is the most abundant lanthanide in the Earth's crust and commonly exists in the +3 and +4 oxidation states. It is widely used in catalysts, glass polishing powders, and lighter flints.
2. What is the electron configuration of cerium?
The ground-state electron configuration of cerium (Ce) is [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2. This configuration reflects the filling of the 4f and 5d orbitals after xenon. As a lanthanide element, cerium shows variable occupation of the 4f and 5d subshells, which contributes to its common +3 and +4 oxidation states in compounds.
3. What are the common oxidation states of cerium?
Cerium most commonly exhibits the +3 and +4 oxidation states in its compounds.
- Ce3+ is the more stable and common state in aqueous solutions.
- Ce4+ is a strong oxidizing agent and is found in compounds like cerium(IV) oxide.
4. What is the formula for cerium(IV) oxide?
The chemical formula for cerium(IV) oxide is CeO2. In this compound, cerium is in the +4 oxidation state and each oxygen has a −2 charge. The charge balance is: Ce4+ + 2O2− → CeO2. Cerium(IV) oxide, also called ceria, is widely used in catalysts, fuel cells, and glass polishing.
5. How does cerium react with oxygen?
Cerium reacts readily with oxygen to form cerium(IV) oxide (CeO2). The balanced reaction is: Ce(s) + O2(g) → CeO2(s). Cerium is highly reactive among the lanthanides and tarnishes quickly in air due to oxide formation. This strong affinity for oxygen explains its use in lighter flints and oxidation catalysts.
6. How is cerium extracted from its ores?
Cerium is extracted from rare earth minerals such as monazite and bastnäsite through chemical separation processes.
- Crushing and treating the ore with acid or alkali.
- Separating rare earth ions by solvent extraction or ion exchange.
- Reducing cerium compounds to metallic cerium, often using molten salt electrolysis.
7. Why is cerium used in catalytic converters?
Cerium is used in catalytic converters because CeO2 can store and release oxygen during redox reactions. Cerium(IV) oxide alternates between Ce4+ and Ce3+, helping to:
- Oxidize carbon monoxide (CO) to CO2
- Oxidize unburned hydrocarbons
- Reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx)
8. What is cerium(III) chloride and what is its formula?
Cerium(III) chloride is an ionic compound with the formula CeCl3. It consists of Ce3+ ions and three Cl− ions to balance the charge. Cerium(III) chloride is commonly used as a starting material in cerium chemistry and in organic synthesis as a Lewis acid catalyst.
9. What is the difference between cerium(III) and cerium(IV) compounds?
The main difference is that cerium(III) compounds contain Ce3+, while cerium(IV) compounds contain Ce4+ and are stronger oxidizing agents.
- Cerium(III): More stable, colorless or pale salts, common in aqueous solution.
- Cerium(IV): Powerful oxidizers, often yellow/orange, e.g., CeO2.
10. What are the main uses of cerium in chemistry and industry?
Cerium is mainly used in catalysts, glass polishing, lighter flints, and fuel cell materials due to its redox properties. Key applications include:
- Cerium(IV) oxide (CeO2) in catalytic converters and solid oxide fuel cells.
- Glass polishing powders because CeO2 is a mild abrasive.
- Ferrocerium alloys in lighter flints.
- Oxidizing agents in analytical and synthetic chemistry.
