cerium

[ seer-ee-uhm ]

noun

1. a steel-gray, ductile metallic element of the rare-earth group found only in combination. : Ce; : 140.12; : 58.

cerium

/ ˈsɪərɪəm /

noun

1. a malleable ductile steel-grey element of the lanthanide series of metals, used in lighter flints and as a reducing agent in metallurgy. Symbol: Ce; atomic no: 58; atomic wt: 140.115; valency: 3 or 4; relative density: 6.770; melting pt: 798°C; boiling pt: 3443°C

cerium

/ sîr′ē-əm /

1. A shiny, gray metallic element of the lanthanide series. It is ductile and malleable and is used in electronic components, alloys, and lighter flints. It is also used in glass polishing, as a catalyst in self-cleaning ovens, and in various nuclear applications. Atomic number 58; atomic weight 140.12; melting point 795°C; boiling point 3,468°C; specific gravity 6.67 to 8.23; valence 3, 4.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of cerium¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; Cer(es) + -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of cerium¹

C19: New Latin, from Ceres (the asteroid) + -ium

Example Sentences

Water and CO2 are pumped into the solar reactor, which contains a porous structure made of ceria, an oxide of the rare-earth metal cerium.

From Singularity Hub 

These included uranium, scandium, ytterbium, niobium and cerium.

From Science News For Students

A detector located in the water about 5 meters underneath the sub’s reactor could measure neutrinos produced in decays of certain cerium and ruthenium isotopes.

From Science News

For the new study, the researchers peered through that window by checking the zircons for trace elements—uranium, scandium, ytterbium, niobium and cerium—and also for different forms of oxygen and hafnium.

From Science News

Most rare earth mining homes in on lanthanum and cerium, but heavier metals like neodymium and dysprosium are especially desirable for the magnets used in clean energy tech.

From Popular-Science

Not to mention rare elements such as lanthanum, cerium, and neodymium, essential to modern technology and commanding high prices.

From The Daily Beast

In the ordinary course cerium is thrown down along with alumina and the other earths by ammonia.

From Project Gutenberg

Cerium is detected by giving with borax a bead which is yellow in the oxidising, and colourless in the reducing flame.

From Project Gutenberg

Traces of cerium compounds boiled with dioxide of lead and nitric acid will give a yellow solution.

From Project Gutenberg

Cerous sulphide, Ce2S3, results on heating cerium with sulphur or cerium oxide in carbon bisulphide vapour.

From Project Gutenberg

These mantles contain the oxides of cerium and thorium in the ratio of about 1% of the former to 99% of the latter.

From Project Gutenberg