rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryceriumRare-earth element
noun

cerium

SEER-ee-um/ˈsɪriəm/

A soft, silvery metallic chemical element in the rare-earth group.

The sealed vial contains a silvery specimen of cerium.

A cerium metal specimen in a clear sealed laboratory vial, with a minimal intrinsic element label identifying the otherwise visually indistinguishable silvery metal.
Etymology
cerLatinRoman goddess of agriculture
+iumLatinmetallic element ending

The element commemorates the asteroid Ceres through ceria, the earth from which the metal was obtained. Ceres bears the Roman agriculture goddess’s name, while -ium marks the substance as an element.

In context

Ron Hipschman14:56
here's what cerium looks like after it's been exposed to the air for a short time the silvery metal has been covered by a black oxide coating
Cerium - Tales from the Periodic Table

More examples

  • The alloy contains a small amount of cerium.
  • The display places cerium among the rare-earth elements.
  • The laboratory stores its cerium sample in a protective container.

Similar words

lanthanum
A different rare-earth metal with distinct chemical properties.
metal
A broad material category rather than this chemical element.