Reactions with water
2Ce(OH)3(aq) + 3H2(g)Reactions with airCeO2Reactions with halogens2CeF3(s)2CeCl3(s)2CeBr3(s)2CeI3(s)Reactions with acids2Ce3+(aq) + 3SO42-(aq) + 3H2(g)|
Compounds | Reactions | Production
|
| Reactions of Cerium |
| Reactions with water |
| Cerium is quite electropositive and reacts slowly with cold water and quite quickly with hot water to form cerium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. |
| 2Ce(s) + 6H2O(g)2Ce(OH)3(aq) + 3H2(g) |
| Reactions with air |
| Cerium tarnishes slowly in air and burns readily to form cerium (IV) oxide. |
| Ce + O2CeO2 |
| Reactions with halogens |
| Cerium metal reacts with all the halogens to form cerium(III) halides. |
| 2Ce(s) + 3F2(g)2CeF3(s) |
| 2Ce(s) + 3Cl2(g)2CeCl3(s) |
| 2Ce(s) + 3Br2(g)2CeBr3(s) |
| 2Ce(s) + 3I2(g)2CeI3(s) |
| Reactions with acids |
| Cerium dissolves readily in dilute sulphuric acid to form solutions containing the colourless aquated Ce(III) ion together with hydrogen gas. |
| 2Ce(s) + 3H2SO4(aq)2Ce3+(aq) + 3SO42-(aq) + 3H2(g) |
| Reduction Potentials | |
| Balanced half-reaction | E0 / V |
Ce3+ + 3e- Ce(s) |
-2.48 |
| Ce(OH)22+ + 2H+ + e-Ce3+ + 2H2O
|
+1.73 |
| Ce(OH)3+ + H+ + e-Ce3+ + H2O
|
+1.71 |
| Ce(ClO4)62- + e-Ce3+ + 6ClO4-
|
+1.70 |
| Ce(NO3)62- + e-Ce3+ + 6NO3- |
+1.61 |
| Ce(SO4)32- + e-Ce3+ + 3SO42- |
+1.44 |