Cerium is a soft, silvery, ductile metal
which easily oxidizes in air. Cerium was named after the dwarf
planet Ceres (itself named for the Roman goddess of agriculture).
Cerium is the most abundant of the rare earth
elements, making up about 0.***6% of the Earth's crust by
weight.
Commercial applications of cerium are numerous. They include
catalysts, additives to fuel to reduce emissions and to glass and
enamels to change their color. Cerium oxide is an important
component of glass polishing powders and phosphors used in screens
and fluorescent lamps.
