Carl Plattner was almost the first person to discover cesium in 1846. He was studying the mineral pollucite but ran out of materials before reaching the element. Cesium was first discovered by German chemists Robert Wilhelm Bunsen and Gustav Robert Kirchhoff in 1860.
While they were studying the components of Durkheim water using flame spectroscopy, the chemists noticed an emission that they had never seen before. This element, soon to be named cesium, was the first element to be found using spectroscopy. Even though they were first credited with the discovery of cesium, they were unable to produce a sample of the metal. Carl
Theodor Setterberg at the University of Bonn was later able to posses it by electrolysis of molten caesium (caesium). …show more content…
Cesium can be found on the periodic table in period number 6, group number 1. It is part of the alkali metal family and is known as a metal (Gagnon).
Under the normal forces of atmospheric pressure, cesium is a soft, silverywhite solid but changes to a silverygold color when in contact with oxygen. In room temperature, cesium is one of the few metals that is a liquid near room temperature. Cesium can not be detected by smell due to the fact that it is odorless. It has a melting point of 28.44°C and a very high boiling point of 671°C. Of all of the metallic elements, cesium has the second lowest melting point. This limits the amount of uses for cesium. Because cesium is an alkali metal, it is both malleable and ductile. It is also a good heat and electric conductor. Cesium has a density of 1.93 grams per cubic centimeter and is a 6.5 to 7 on MOHs hardness (cesium minerals).
One of the most abundant isotopes is cesium133.
This isotope has a 100% natural abundance and is stable (caesium). This isotope is found in soil. Other common isotopes include cesium137 and …show more content…
Cesium is in the middle of the elements in terms of abundance.
Cesium is a highly reactive element and when in contact with water or ice, forms cesium hydroxide. Cesium hydroxide attacks glass and is the strongest base known so far. If mixed in a container, cesium would explode and shatter the container. Cesium quickly combines with oxygen, making it necessary to be stored in kerosene or mineral oil. It is also a strong reactor with acids and the halogens sulfur, and phosphorus.
Cesium is naturally found in various soils throughout the world. Cesium can also be present due to nuclear weapon tests. This element is more commonly found on land rather than in the oceans. Cesium can be a pure element or can become a compound when mixed with water or ice. The pure element is much more radioactive than that of a compound. Cesium is used commonly as a drilling fluid and in the “cesium clock”. This clock is used for computers, cell phones, and GPSs (what). These clocks are extremely accurate and frequently used. Pure cesium can be extracted by either combining calcium with melted cesium chloride, or passing an electric current through a melted cesium compound