Cerium(IV) oxide facts for kids

Cerium(IV) oxide is an oxide of the rare earth metal cerium. Its formula is CeO₂. It is white or light yellow in color. It is an important commercial product. It is used as an intermediate in the purification of the element from the ores. It reacts with carbon monoxide at high temperature to get cerium(III) oxide.

Preparation

Cerium(IV) oxide can be made by the oxidation of cerium(III) oxide. Also, it can be made by heating cerium(IV) hydroxide.

Uses

It can be used as an oxidizing agent. It can be used in oxidation of natural gas.

It glows at high temperature. This allows it to be used in gas mantles to replace harmful thorium(IV) oxide.

Related pages

• Cerium

Images for kids

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  A glowing Coleman white gas lantern mantle. The glowing element is mainly ThO2 doped with CeO2, heated by the Ce-catalyzed oxidation of the natural gas with air.

See also

In Spanish: Óxido de cerio(IV) para niños