| 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) |
Ce(s)