Cesium is element 55 on the Periodic Table. It is a soft,
metallic-colored alkali metal, and has a very low melting point. Cesium is one
of the five metals that are liquid at room temperature. The metal is mildly
toxic, but presents a high health risk to humans and the environment.
It was discovered in 1860 by the German
chemists Robert
Wilhelm Bunsen and Gustav
Robert Kirchhoff in mineral water from a town in Germany - Durkheim. They were
able to distinguish and characterize it through the method of flame spectroscopy.
When burned, its compounds give off a blue or violet color. This is why the
name comes from the Latin word for "sky blue" - caesius. Its
characteristics are very similar to that of Rubidium.
Cesium
forms alloys with other alkali metals. It is considered relatively rare
element, with a natural abundance of around 3 parts per million
in the Earth's crust. It is the 36th most common element.
The
metal is commonly used in drilling
fluids to explore for petroleum, atomic clocks, and its compounds are used
in the production of chemicals. One of the biggest dangers of Cesium is the
fact that is lethal to humans if direct contact is made - causing spasms. It is
highly reactive, as with all alkali metals. When it comes in contact with
water, it is highly reactive (explosive).
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