Cerium (noun)

A metallic chemical element with the symbol Ce and atomic number 58. It is a soft, ductile, and silvery-white metal that tarnishes when exposed to air, and it is found in the minerals monazite and bastnäsite. Cerium is the most abundant of the rare earth elements and is used in catalysts, polishing compounds, and ceramics.

Origin:

Named after the asteroid ceres, which was discovered around the same time as the element cerium in 1803 by swedish chemists jöns jakob berzelius and wilhelm hisinger. .

Examples:

1. Cerium is used as a catalytic converter in automobiles.
2. Cerium oxide is used as a polishing powder for glass.
3. Cerium is a member of the rare earth elements.
4. Cerium is present in many minerals including monazite and bastnasite.
5. Cerium is used in the production of ceramics and as an oxidizing agent.