The pure metallic element was not isolated until 1875. Cerium occurs with monazite, which is found widely distributed worldwide, and bastnasite, found in southern Callifornia.
Cerium is the only one of the rare earth metals that can be easily separated from the others.
Metallic cerium is found in an alloy with iron that is used in flints for cigarette lighters. Small quantities of cerium are used to manufacture glass, ceramics and photoelectric cells. Cerium is used by the motion picture industry for lighting purposes. Ceric sulfate is used as an oxidizing agent in analytic-chemistry laboratories. Bayer Corporation is a research-based company with major businesses in health care and life sciences, and chemicals.