The chemical element cesium is spelled with the letter "c" rather than "k" due to its origin from the Latin word "caesium". The pronunciation of the word is /ˈsiːziəm/, with the stress on the first syllable. The "c" is pronounced as /s/ making the sound /s/ followed by the long "e" sound /iː/. The second syllable begins with the letter "s" and is pronounced as /z/. The final syllable has the short "i" sound /əm/ followed by the letter "m".
Cesium is a chemical element with the symbol Cs and atomic number 55. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal that belongs to Group 1 of the periodic table. Cesium is an extremely reactive metal, with physical and chemical properties that make it distinctive.
In its pure form, cesium is a soft and ductile metal that can be easily cut with a knife. It has a low melting point of approximately 28.4 degrees Celsius (83.1 degrees Fahrenheit) and a boiling point of around 671 degrees Celsius (1,240 degrees Fahrenheit). Cesium has a high electrical conductivity, making it useful in the construction of certain types of electronic devices.
Cesium is primarily found in nature as a trace element, commonly associated with minerals such as pollucite and lepidolite. It is obtained commercially as a byproduct of lithium production or through the extraction from pollucite ore.
Due to its reactivity, cesium reacts violently with water, releasing hydrogen gas and generating a potentially explosive reaction. It is highly corrosive and can cause severe burns upon contact with skin. Cesium also readily reacts with oxygen in the air, forming an oxide layer that protects the metal from further corrosion.
Cesium has several applications in various industries. In atomic clocks, cesium is used to accurately measure time based on its electronic transitions. It is also used in the petroleum industry as a drilling fluid additive, as well as in glass manufacturing to enhance the durability of certain types of glass. Additionally, cesium compounds have been utilized in catalysts, and in the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Caesium, a metallic element, symbol Cs, atomic weight 132.81. Its salts are said to increase blood-pressure and have been recommended in the treatment of epilepsy, nervous palpitation, etc., the bromide being given in doses of gr. 3-5 (0.2-0.3).
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "cesium" is derived from the Latin word "caesium", which in turn was based on the Latinized version of the Latin word "caesius". "Caesius" means "sky blue" or "bluish-gray", which refers to the color of the element cesium when in its pure form. The name was given by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff, German chemists who discovered the element in 1860 using spectroscopy.