Cerium

Cerium is a chemical element that is under atomic number 58. One of the elements of the lanthanide group.

A simple substance is a silvery-white ductile and malleable metal that can be easily forged and machined at room temperature. There are 4 crystalline modifications of cerium:

• α-form up to a temperature of 95K;
• β-form in the temperature range 95 - 264K;
• γ-form in the temperature range 263 - 1035K;
• δ form c at temperatures above 1035 K;

Unstable in air, gradually oxidizes, turning into white oxide and cerium carbonate.

Application area

The main application of cerium is metallurgy. It is used because of its ability to modify alloys based on iron and magnesium.

Increases the strength of alloyed structural steels.

Increases the property of electrical conductivity of titanium, niobium, copper, aluminum.

Cerium dioxide CeO ₂ is used in the chemical and petroleum industries as a catalyst. It is also used as an abrasive with other rare earth metal oxides.

Due to its resistance to high temperatures, cerium dioxide is used in refractory materials. And also it is a part of special glasses as an illuminator.

Cerium salts are used to treat and prevent the symptoms of seasickness.