From Arsenic to Zirconium

CERIUM, Ce

CLEANS YOUR OVEN’S WALLS

Gray cerium’s the lanthanoid that sparks when e’er ’tis scratched,

The mainstay of mischmetal’s mix, in flint it’s ne’er been matched.

Its nitrate helps harsh burns to treat,

Its oxide “buffs up” glass so neat . . .

. . . and also cleans your oven’s walls when baked-on food’s attached!

Gray cerium’s the lanthanoid that sparks when e’er ’tis scratched,

SECOND IN THE LANTHANOID SERIES

Cerium is a particularly reactive metal. Scratching a knife across its soft, gray surface produces a hail of bright sparks as the tiny particles of dislodged metal quickly oxidize in the air (they react so vigorously with oxygen ...