Density
6.77 g/cm³ (at 20 °C)
Discovery
Cerium was independently discovered in 1803 by Martin Heinrich Klaproth, Jöns Jacob Berzelius, and Wilhelm Hisinger.
Common Uses
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Cerium oxide is used in catalytic converters in automobiles to reduce emissions.
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Used in ferrocerium ("mischmetal") alloys for lighter flints.
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Cerium oxide is used to polish glass surfaces.
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Used as a yellow pigment in ceramics and glass.
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Used in phosphors for fluorescent lights and television screens.
Interesting Facts
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Cerium is the most abundant of the rare earth elements.
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It is a soft, silvery metallic element that tarnishes easily in air.
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The name "cerium" is derived from the asteroid Ceres, which was discovered two years before the element.
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Cerium has several allotropes (different structural forms) that exist at different temperatures and pressures.
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