Cesium
What is Cesium
Cesium (pronounced as SEE-zee-em), sometimes spelled as caesium, is a highly reactive metal when exposed to air and water. Denoted by the chemical symbol Cs, it belongs to the family of alkali metals [1]. It has one naturally occurring isotope, Cs-133 while the rest thirty-five are unstable.
Cesium Symbol
Where is Cesium Found
It exists naturally in the minerals lepidolite and pollucite found in the Bernic Lake of Canada and USA. On a commercial scale, it is obtained as a by-product of lithium production [1].
Cesium
History
Origin of its Name: The element got its name from the Latin word ‘caesius’ which means sky blue.
Who Discovered: Gustav Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen
Where and When was Cesium Discovered
In 1846, Carl Plattner analyzed only 93% of the mineral pollucite and assumed to have detected only sodium and potassium.
In 1860, Kirchoff and Bunsen at Heidelberg, Germany examined the mineral water from Durkheim to find new spectral lines that indicated the presence of a new element. However, they could only obtain seven grams of cesium chloride without extracting the pure metal. Later, Carl Theodor Setterberg at the University of Bonn obtained it through electrolysis of molten cesium cyanide.
Identification |
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| Atomic number | 55 [1] | ||
| CAS number | 7440-46-2 [1] | ||
| Position in the periodic table [1] | Group | Period | Block |
| 1 | 6 | s | |
Location of Caesium on the Periodic Table
Properties and Characteristics of Cesium
General Properties |
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| Relative atomic mass | 132.905 [1] | |
| Atomic mass/weight | 132.905 atomic mass units [4] | |
| Mass number | 133 [13] | |
| Molar mass | 132.90545190 ± 0.00000020 g/mole [6] | |
Physical Properties |
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| Color/appearance | Golden [1] | |
| Flame test color | Blue/Violet [5] | |
| Odor | Unknown [12] | |
| Luster | Vitreous, pearly [7] | |
| Melting point/freezing point | 28.5°C (83.3°F) [1] | |
| Boiling point | 671°C (1240°F) [1] | |
| Density | 1.873 g/cm3 [1] | |
| State of matter at normal room temperature (solid/liquid/gas) | Solid [1] | |
| Work Function | 2.1 eV [11] | |
| Threshold frequency | 4.38×10^14 Hz [14] | |
| Electrical conductivity | 5×106 S/m [8] | |
Chemical Properties |
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| Oxidation state/Oxidation number | -1, +1[1] | |
Atomic Data of Cesium (Element 55)
| Valence electrons | 1 [8] | ||||||
| Ion charge | +1 [9] | ||||||
| Quantum numbers [7] | |||||||
| – n | 6 | ||||||
| – ℓ | 0 | ||||||
| – mℓ | 0 | ||||||
| – ms | +1/2 | ||||||
| Electron configuration (noble gas configuration) | [Xe] 6s1 [1] | ||||||
| Atomic structure [4] | |||||||
| – Number of Electrons | 55 | ||||||
| – Number of Neutrons | 78 | ||||||
| – Number of Protons | 55 | ||||||
| Energy levels [10] | |||||||
| – First energy level | 2 | ||||||
| – Second energy level | 8 | ||||||
| – Third energy level | 18 | ||||||
| – Fourth energy level | 18 | ||||||
| – Fifth energy level | 8 | ||||||
| – Sixth energy level | 1 | ||||||
| Radius of atom | |||||||
| – Atomic Radius | 3.43 Å [1] | ||||||
| – Covalent Radius | 2.38 Å [1] | ||||||
| Electronegativity | 0.79 | ||||||
| Ionization energy [1]
(kJmol-1) |
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th |
| 375.705 | 2234.353 | – | – | – | – | – | |
Cesium Atomic Structure (Bohr Diagram)
What are the Uses of Cesium
- Atomic clocks and wrist watches made from cesium, also called cesium-beam frequency standard, are used in internet and mobile phone networks, and Global Positioning System satellites to measure the standard time [1].
- It plays the role of a catalyst in the hydrogenation of some organic compounds.
- The element, when combined with oxygen, acts as a getter to remove trace gases and other impurities from vacuum tubes [1].
- Seed implants made from Cs have been used as a part of brachytherapy for treatment of prostate cancer [16]. In some animal studies, the quantity of the element had been increased to raise the pH of the tumor cells and kill them. Cesium-137 implants have been used in some clinical trials to carry out radiation therapy of breast cancer [15].
- Cesium vapour magnetometer is used in the measurement of earth’s magnetic field [17].
Toxicity
Accidental ingestion can affect the liver, intestine, and kidneys. Eye contamination or spillage over the skin can cause extreme irritation and inflammation [4].
Cesium Metal
Interesting Facts
- The nuclear explosion of uranium produces the two isotopes, Cs-134 and Cs-137 [3].
- As cesium ions can be ionized and have a high mass, they may be used as a propellant in ion engines of spaceships [2].
Cesium Price
The cost of the metal may range between $38 and $40 per gram.
- References
- http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/55/caesium
- https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele055.html
- https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/cesium
- http://hobart.k12.in.us/ksms/PeriodicTable/cesium.htm
- https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Inorganic_Chemistry/Descriptive_Chemistry/Elements_Organized_by_Block/1_s-Block_Elements/Group__1%3A_The_Alkali_Metals/2Reactions_of_the_Group_1_Elements/Flame_Tests
- https://www.webqc.org/molecular-weight-of-cesium.html
- https://mineralseducationcoalition.org/minerals-database/cesium/
- http://periodictable.com/Elements/055/data.html
- http://www.gpb.org/files/pdfs/gpbclassroom/chemistry/ionicChargesChart.pdf
- http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/cs.html
- http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Tables/photoelec.html
- https://prezi.com/oph12x9e8hiy/cesium/
- https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/iso055.html
- http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/cesium-metal-threshold-frequency-438-x-10-14-hz-kinetic-energy-electron-ejected-surface-ce-q22995201
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15172143
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2807139/
- https://scintrexltd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/CS-VL-Manual-773701-Rev0.pdf
