CAESIUM

DISCOVERY

• Caesium was discovered in 1860 by two men named, Robert Bunson and Gustav Kirchhoff
• The element was found by using a spectroscope in mineral water from Dürkheim, Germany
• Caesium was the first element to be discovered by a spectroscope. A year after it was invented
• It was named Caesium after Latin Caesius, meaning Sky-Blue, after its bright blue lines in the emission spectrum

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

• Melting Point: 28.5 C
• Boiling Point: 671 C

STATE OF MATTER

• Caesium turns into a liquid at 28.5 C
• It is considered a solid on the periodic table
• It is one of the five elements that turn into a liquid at around room temperature

PERIOD

• Caesium is in the sixth period on the periodic table
• It has six shells in which the electrons spread out
• 2, 8, 18, 18, 8, 1

GROUP

• Caesium is in the first group on the Periodic Table
• This group belongs to the Alkali Metals. Except for hydrogen
• All of the elements in this group have one valence electron
• Alkali metals react with water and release hydrogen gas

CAESIUM USES

• Drilling Fluid- Brings rock cutting to the top and lubricates the drill
• Atomic Clocks- Caesium is used in extremely accurate atomic clocks missing only 2 seconds in over 66 million years
• Night Vision- Caesium is used to stabilize and enhance optical devices such as night vision goggles.
• Thermionic Generators- Caesium vapor is used in these generators that convert heat to electricity.
• Ion Engines- Caesium was used in addition to mercury in early ion engines designed for long term space travel.