Cerium

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Elements

OSTI ID:219549

Cerium in the year 1803, three scientists (M.H. Laproth, J.J. Berzelius, and W. Hisinger) independently discovered cerium (Ce), the first lanthanide element to be isolated. The element`s name is derived from the asteroid Ceres, which was discovered just two years before cerium. The name {open_quotes}cerium{close_quotes} is especially appropriate since cerium, in its +4 ionic state, exhibits a {open_quotes}ceres,{close_quotes} or reddish-orange, color. Cerium has a very high crystal abundance of 46 ppm, similar to that of the very common gas, nitrogen, and abundant metal, copper. Of all the rare earth (RE) ores mined today, the average concentration of cerium in the ore is 46.4 percent, in terms of cerium oxide (CeO{sub 2}) content per total rare earth oxide (REO) by weight. Cerium is therefore the most abundant of all the rare earths, with concentrations as high as 50 percent CeO{sub 2}/REO in Chinese bastnasite and 52 percent in Russian loparites. Based on US Bureau of Mines statistics, CTC estimates that the world`s total mined production of cerium oxide in 1991 was about 24,000 metric tons-almost half of the total rare earth oxides produced.

• OSTI ID: 219549
• Journal Information: Elements, Journal Name: Elements Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 1; ISSN 1074-8709; ISSN ELMEET
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
40 CHEMISTRY
ABUNDANCE
CATALYSTS
CERAMICS
CERIUM
CERIUM ALLOYS
CERIUM OXIDES
GLASS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES