Cerium58 |
|
Properties |
|---|
| Symbol | Name | Atomic Number | Atomic Weight | Group Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ce | Cerium | 58 | 140.115(1) |
Standard State: solid at 298 K
Color: silvery white
Klaproth, Berzelius and Hisinger discovered Cerium in 1803. The metal was prepared by Hillebrand and Norton in 1875. Cerium was named after the asteroid Ceres which was discovered only two years before the element. Metallic Cerium is prepared by metallothermic reduction techniques, such as reducing cerous fluoride with calcium. Cerium is one of the most reactive of the rare-earth metal. It slowly decomposes in cold water but rapidly in hot water.