cesium
/'si:zjəm/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A soft, silver-white, ductile metallic element that is liquid at room temperature: Cesium is a chemical element with the symbol Cs and atomic number 55. It is the most electropositive and alkaline metal, meaning it reacts extremely vigorously with water and air.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Cesium is used in atomic clocks because of its precise vibrational frequency.
- The scientist handled the sample of cesium with great care due to its high reactivity.
Advanced Usage
"Cesium standard": Refers to the international standard for measuring time (the second) based on the radiation frequency of the cesium-133 atom.
- The accuracy of GPS relies on the cesium standard in satellites.
"Cesium clock": A type of atomic clock that uses the properties of cesium atoms to keep extremely accurate time.
- The laboratory's primary timekeeper is a cesium clock.
Variants and Related Words
Caesium: The British English spelling of "cesium." Both spellings refer to the same element.
- Caesium and cesium are identical elements with different spellings.
Cesium-137: A radioactive isotope of cesium, a fission product used in certain medical and industrial applications but also a hazardous component of nuclear fallout.
- Strict protocols govern the handling of cesium-137 in medical devices.
Synonyms
- Element 55: Referring to its atomic number.
- Alkali metal: Cesium belongs to this group of highly reactive metals, which also includes lithium, sodium, and potassium.
Related Phrases
"Cesium vapor": Cesium in a gaseous state, often used in specialized applications like magnetometers.
- The experiment required a chamber filled with cesium vapor.
"Cesium formate": A salt derived from cesium, used in high-density drilling fluids for the oil industry.
- Cesium formate brine is valued for its stability in high-pressure wells.
Noun
- a soft silver-white ductile metallic element (liquid at normal temperatures); the most electropositive and alkaline metal