Cerium is an iron-gray, soft, ductile and malleable metal.
It is the most abundant of the rare earth elements. It is a reactive metal, rapidly oxidizing in air forming a superficial oxide coating. The metal reacts rapidly with water, readily dissolved in mineral acids and will react with most nonmetals on heating. Cerium has many uses, including as an alloying agent with iron and other metals. A component of misch metal, carbon-arc lighting, catalyst in petroleum refining, metallurgical, and nuclear applications.