What is Cerium(IV) oxide?
'''Cerium(IV) oxide''' is an [[oxide]] of the [[rare earth metal|rare earth]] metal [[cerium]]. Its formula is CeO<sub>2</sub>. It is white or light yellow in color. It is an important commercial product. It is used as an [[Reaction intermediate|intermediate]] in the [[wikt:purification|purification]] of the element from the [[ore]]s. 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]].<ref>Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. {{ISBN|0-08-037941-9}}.</ref> It [[wikt:glow|glow]]s at high temperature. This allows it to be used in gas mantles to replace harmful [[thorium(IV) oxide]]. ==Related pages== *[[Cerium]] ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Oxides]]