Cesium - ≥99.9% metals basis, lumps,5mm max. lump size,weight 1g

Cat. No.: C485406

GRADE & PURITY ≥99.9% metals basis, lumps,5mm max. lump size,weight 1g

Synonyms

CS006100

Storage

Room temperature

Specifications

Synonyms

CS006100

Specifications & Purity

≥99.9% metals basis, lumps,5mm max. lump size,weight 1g

Legal Information

Product of Goodfellow

Storage

Room temperature

Purity

≥99.9% metals basis

Application Protocols

Not applicable for immunoassays or bioassays (e.g., WB, IHC, IF, FC). No tested application protocols are provided for this item.

For chemical use, see Reaction Conditions and Synthetic Utility for general operational guidance and develop SOPs specific to your transformation and scale.

Biological Roles

Item-specific biological information is not provided. The following is general literature context for cesium ions in biology; it does not constitute medical or clinical guidance.

• Essentiality: Cesium is not known to be an essential element for living systems. It can substitute partially for potassium in certain ion channels due to similar charge and size, but with altered permeability/block properties.
• Transport and channels: Cs+ is commonly used in electrophysiology to block inward-rectifier potassium channels and to probe permeation/selection mechanisms in K+ channels. Intracellular Cs+ solutions are standard in patch-clamp experiments to reduce K+ currents (literature practice).
• Enzyme interactions: Cesium can affect K+-dependent enzymes by competing at monovalent cation sites, typically with lower efficacy than K+.
• Toxicology (non-clinical, general): High exposures to soluble cesium salts can disrupt potassium homeostasis; handling and exposure limits must follow institutional EHS guidance and SDS. Metallic cesium is hazardous primarily due to its reactivity rather than direct biological interactions.

For any biological experiments, use controlled cesium ion sources (usually soluble salts), maintain appropriate buffers, and adhere strictly to your IBC/EHS approvals.

Buffer Applications

Not typically applicable. Elemental cesium is not used to formulate aqueous buffer systems due to extreme water reactivity.

General literature note:

• When cesium ions are desired in electrophysiology or nucleic acid biochemistry, researchers employ soluble cesium salts (e.g., CsCl, CsF, CsMeSO3) prepared in deionized water and filtered under sterile conditions. Buffer selection then follows the pH/ionic strength requirements of the assay, not the metal form.

For this product (metallic cesium), see the sections on Reaction & Applications, Synthetic Utility, and Storage.

Green Alternatives

Objective comparison (literature-based; select according to risk, waste, and performance):

• Risk and process safety:

  • Cesium metal is extremely water-reactive and poses significant fire/explosion hazards. Greener/safer alternatives often involve using cesium in less reactive forms (e.g., Cs2CO3, CsF) or selecting different alkali metals with lower hazard profiles (e.g., Na or K when acceptable).

• Functional alternatives:

  • For strong base needs in O-/N-alkylations: cesium carbonate or cesium pivalate can deliver the “cesium effect” without handling the metal.
  • For electron transfer reductions: consider sodium or lithium in ammonia/amine media, dissolving metal reductions using safer donors (e.g., SmI2, organic electron donors) when compatible.
  • For phase-transfer and counterion effects: tetraalkylammonium or phosphazenium bases may substitute with reduced metal hazards.

• Environmental and waste considerations:

  • Metallic alkali waste requires specialized quench and disposal. Substituting with milder bases or catalytic electron transfer systems reduces pyrophoric residues.

Comparison snapshot (literature):

• Cesium metal: maximal reactivity; highest hazard; minimal EHS friendliness.
• Cesium carbonate: strong base, solid, easier handling; retains many cesium counterion benefits.
• Sodium/potassium metal: strong reductants but somewhat lower cost and better-established quench protocols; still high hazard.

Always balance process performance with EHS and lifecycle impacts; pilot alternatives at small scale first.

Pharmaceutical Uses

No pharmacopeial or excipient status is provided for this item. Elemental cesium is not used as a formulation excipient.

Process/manufacturing context (general literature):

• Cesium-containing materials can appear in manufacturing equipment (e.g., vacuum electronics, photodetectors) rather than in drug products.
• Certain cesium salts (not the metal) are used as strong bases or phase-transfer aids in synthetic steps for APIs, benefiting from the cesium counterion’s effects on reactivity and solubility. These steps occur upstream, with rigorous purging of inorganic residues during workup.

Compliance reminder:

• For regulated manufacturing, only grades with appropriate documentation (CoA, trace metal profile, residual solvent statements) and supplier quality agreements may be considered. None of these are specified for this catalog item; refer to the CoA/Spec Sheet and your QA unit.

Physical Properties

Item-specific values provided in Product Data: none. Verify against the CoA/Spec Sheet for this lot.

Literature/general properties for elemental cesium (for reference; not item specifications):

• Appearance: soft, silvery-gold alkali metal; readily tarnishes in air (literature).
• Melting point: ~28.4 °C (near room temperature; literature).
• Boiling point: ~671 °C (literature).
• Density: ~1.93 g/cm³ at 20 °C (literature).
• Crystal structure: body-centered cubic (α-Cs) at ambient temperature; transitions at low temperatures/pressures (literature).
• Heat of fusion: ~2.09 kJ/mol; heat of vaporization: ~65 kJ/mol (literature).
• Electrical/thermal: good electrical conductor; high thermal/electronic polarizability (literature).
• Solubility/reactivity in solvents: reacts violently with protic solvents (water, alcohols); forms cesium alkoxides with alcohols; can be dispersed in hydrocarbons/mineral oil under strictly anhydrous conditions (literature).
• Vapor pressure: appreciable above its low melting point and increases rapidly with temperature; cesium vapor used in discharge lamps/atomic standards (literature).
• Standard reduction potential Cs+/Cs: approximately −3.03 V vs SHE (very strong reducing agent; literature).
• Optical: strong photoemissive response; low work function when combined with oxides (e.g., Cs–O–Ag systems; literature).

Always treat the above as guidance. For any critical process design, consult the SDS and measure/confirm with your own QC or the item’s CoA.

Quality & Grades

• Grade/Purity: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Stabilizers/packaging: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Guidance on grades (general, literature):

• Metals like cesium are often supplied as distilled ampoules or under mineral oil. “Distilled” or “high-purity” grades indicate low Na/K/Rb and transition-metal contaminants, important for photoemissive, semiconductor, and spectroscopy applications.
• Semiconductor/optical grades prioritize alkali and oxide impurity control, moisture-free packaging (sealed glass/ampoule), and headspace under inert gas.
• Reagent grades for synthesis emphasize low oxygen and low water content to maximize reducing power and reproducibility in organometallic preparations.

Quality verification tips:

• Inspect for visible oxidation/tarnish; bright, uniform metallic luster indicates minimal surface oxide. Any yellow/brown crust may indicate superoxide/peroxide—handle with extreme caution.
• For quantitative work (e.g., stoichiometric reductions), titrate active metal content by reaction with a standard protic substrate under inert conditions.
• Confirm trace-metal profile via ICP-OES/ICP-MS where electronic/materials properties are sensitive to impurities.

Refer to the item’s CoA/SDS for definitive specifications and handling instructions.

Reaction & Applications

Cesium metal is an exceptionally strong reductant and a valuable counterion source in synthesis and materials science (literature context; verify suitability for your process).

• Reductive chemistry:

  • Electron transfer reductions in ammonia or amines (analogs of Birch-type conditions) where cesium’s high polarizability can alter anion aggregation and reactivity relative to Li/Na/K.
  • Metal–halogen exchange and formation of organocesium species from activated organohalides under specialized conditions.

• Base and alkoxide formation:

  • Direct conversion of alcohols/phenols to cesium alkoxides/phenoxides (ROCs) by controlled reaction of Cs with ROH under inert atmosphere; the resulting Cs salts are highly soluble in polar aprotic media and serve as strong, poorly coordinating bases.

• Anion chemistry and counterion effects:

  • Cesium salts (carbonate, fluoride, pivalate) are renowned for enhancing SNAr, O-alkylation, and cross-coupling rates via the “cesium effect.” Metallic Cs enables in situ generation of such anions or pre-synthesis of the corresponding Cs salts.

• Materials science and electronics:

  • Source of cesium for alkali metal getters and vacuum tube/photoemissive cathode activation; formation of low-work-function surfaces when co-deposited with oxides (e.g., Cs–O–Ag).
  • Intercalation into graphite and layered hosts to modulate conductivity and to prepare precursors for alkali-graphite compounds.

Practical tips:

• Operate under rigorously inert, anhydrous conditions; portion the metal under dry oil/solvent.
• Initiations can be exothermic; add substrates slowly and control temperature.
• Characterize products promptly; cesium-containing intermediates can be highly reactive.

Reaction Conditions

General literature guidance for using cesium metal (not item-specific; tailor to your protocol and consult primary references):

• Atmosphere: Strictly inert (Ar or N2). Glovebox preferred. All glassware oven-dried/flame-dried. Avoid any contact with moisture/oxygen.
• Media: Anhydrous aprotic solvents (THF, MTBE, toluene, glymes). For base formation, add alcohol/phenol dropwise to metal dispersion under cooling. For electron-transfer reductions, use ethereal solvents or ammonia/amine media at controlled temperatures.
• Temperature:
  • Keep well below the metal’s melting point (~28.4 °C, literature) for operations requiring solid handling; if molten cesium is desired, manage at 30–40 °C with extreme caution and efficient exclusion of air/moisture.
  • Reductions often run from −78 °C to room temperature depending on substrate and solvent.
• Initiation and rates: Scratching/fragmenting the metal increases surface area; initiations may be rapid—meter substrate carefully to control heat release.
• Stoichiometry: Typically 1–2 equiv for deprotonations; for SET reductions, 1–6 equiv depending on substrate and mechanism.
• Workup/quench: Use highly controlled, stepwise quench. First, destroy residual metal under dry isopropanol/t-BuOH at 0 °C behind a blast shield, then cautiously add water/brine. Neutralize bases and capture Cs+ as benign salts for disposal per local regulations.
• Yields/selectivity: Substrate-dependent; cesium counterions often enhance rates in alkylations/SNAr (literature reports). Pilot small-scale runs to map optimal equivalents and temperature profiles.

Safety & Handling

Authoritative safety classification (GHS, H/P statements, pictograms) is not provided in the Product Data. Consult the SDS for this specific item/lot.

General hazards for elemental cesium (literature; not item-specific):

• Water-reactive: cesium reacts violently with water, liberating hydrogen and heat; ignition of evolved H2 and/or self-ignition of reaction products may occur.
• Air sensitivity: rapid oxidation; can form superoxides/peroxides on exposure to moist air; finely divided cesium is a severe fire/explosion hazard.
• Corrosive reaction mixtures: reaction with protic solvents generates caustic cesium hydroxide; contact hazards to skin/eyes.

Handling controls (good practice):

• Perform all manipulations in an inert-atmosphere glovebox or using Schlenk techniques under dry argon/nitrogen. Keep rigorously dry.
• Use non-sparking, dry tools. Cut or portion metal under dry hydrocarbon (e.g., mineral oil or dry hexane) to limit air/moisture contact.
• Segregate from water, alcohols, acids, oxidizers, halogens, and CO2 fire-extinguishers. Class D extinguishing media (dry sand, Met-L-X) only.
• PPE: safety glasses/face shield, lab coat, chemical-resistant gloves; consider cut-resistant liners when handling ingots.

First-aid overview (consult SDS for details):

• Skin/eye contact with reaction products (e.g., CsOH): immediate decontamination with copious water for at least 15 minutes; seek medical attention.
• Inhalation of smoke/fumes from fires: move to fresh air and obtain medical attention.

Storage note: See “Storage & Reconstitution.” Always defer to the SDS for definitive hazard and response information.

Solvent Selection

Not a solvent. Cesium is an elemental metal and is not used as a liquid solvent.

Practical notes (general literature guidance):

• Dispersion/media: For cutting/portioning and short-term transfers, dry, oxygen-free hydrocarbons (e.g., hexane, heptane) or mineral oil are often used to exclude air/moisture. These are media, not solvents in the classical sense, and must be thoroughly dried and deoxygenated.
• Reaction media: When employing cesium as a reductant or to prepare cesium alkoxides/amides, strictly aprotic, anhydrous solvents (e.g., THF, glymes, toluene) under inert atmosphere are typical. Cesium must never contact protic solvents unless controlled for deliberate synthesis due to violent reactivity.
• Comparison with other alkali metals: Choice among Li/Na/K/Rb/Cs is guided by reduction potential, aggregation/solvation phenomena, and downstream counterion effects. Cesium tends to favor looser ion pairing and can enhance rates/selectivity in some anionic processes (literature).

For solvent properties relevant to your specific reaction, consult the reaction literature and your internal solvent-drying SOPs.

Storage & Reconstitution

• Storage conditions (from Product Data): Room temperature.
• Shipped in/packaging: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Best practices (literature; supplementing the above):

• Atmosphere: Store under dry inert gas (argon or nitrogen) in a sealed container or ampoule. Many suppliers pack under mineral oil or vacuum/inert headspace to exclude moisture/oxygen.
• Container: Use compatible, airtight containers (e.g., glass ampoules or metal cans) with secondary containment. Keep away from acids, oxidizers, halogens, and any protic materials.
• Temperature: Room temperature is acceptable if completely protected from moisture/air; avoid heat sources and direct sunlight. Note the low melting point (~28.4 °C, literature)—prevent inadvertent warming that could liquefy the metal and increase hazard.
• Inspection: Periodically check for surface tarnish or crust formation. Suspected superoxides/peroxides require specialized disposal—do not scrape or cut until rendered safe per EHS protocol.
• Reconstitution: Not applicable; elemental cesium is used as supplied. If under oil, portions can be removed and quickly rinsed with dry hydrocarbon solvent under inert atmosphere immediately before use.

Always prioritize the SDS and your institution’s EHS procedures for storage, transfer, and disposal of reactive alkali metals.

Structure & Identity

Brief overview: Cesium is an elemental alkali metal (Group 1) with a single valence electron and extreme electropositivity, used widely in materials science and as a powerful reductant.

• Item-specific identifiers from Product Data:

  • SKU: C485406
  • Category: Materials Science
  • CAS, InChIKey, SMILES, Molecular Formula, Molecular Weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

• Literature identity (for reference only; not item-specific specifications):

  • Chemical name: Cesium (elemental)
  • Molecular formula: Cs (literature)
  • Atomic (molar) mass: ~132.91 g/mol (literature)
  • CAS: 7440-46-2 (literature)
  • SMILES: [Cs] (literature)
  • InChI: InChI=1S/Cs (literature)
  • InChIKey: TVFDJXOCXUVLDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N (literature)

• Structural/atomic features (general):

  • Monatomic metallic solid (body-centered cubic at ambient conditions; literature).
  • Outer-shell configuration: [Xe] 6s1; single, highly polarizable valence electron (literature).
  • Extremely large ionic radius; readily forms Cs+ cations; strongest s-block electropositivity (literature).
  • In 2D schemes, often depicted as discrete “Cs” atoms; no covalent bonding motif in elemental state under standard conditions.

Note: All identifiers not provided in Product Data are literature references to aid recognition and should be verified against the item’s CoA/SDS prior to regulated use.

Synthetic Utility

Cesium’s value in synthesis arises from its extreme electropositivity and the uniquely weakly coordinating nature of Cs+ (literature). Key utilities include:

• Formation of strong bases and nucleophiles:

  • Preparation of cesium alkoxides/phenoxides by direct metal–alcohol reaction provides superbases and soluble bases in polar aprotic solvents. Cesium amides (via reaction with amines and activators) are potent Brønsted bases.
  • Cesium-promoted O- and N-alkylations often proceed faster and with higher conversions relative to K/Na analogs (the “cesium effect”).

• Reductive transformations:

  • Single-electron transfer to activate aryl/alkyl halides, nitriles, and certain heterocycles under carefully controlled conditions; reactivity can exceed K/Na due to solvation/aggregation differences.
  • Generation of radical anions and dianions in ethereal solvents or liquid ammonia analogs.

• Counterion engineering:

  • Preforming substrates as cesium salts (carboxylates, enolates, phosphates) can improve phase behavior, crystallinity, and reactivity in cross-coupling and substitution chemistry.

• Materials precursors:

  • As a metal source for constructing intercalation compounds (e.g., graphite–cesium) and for vacuum deposition of low-work-function layers in optoelectronics.

Operational considerations:

• Use glovebox/Schlenk; portion the metal carefully; expect vigorous exotherms in deprotonations.
• Verify active metal content if surface oxidation is suspected; scrape/trim surfaces under dry hydrocarbon before use.

Target Specificity

Not applicable. This product is an elemental metal, not a biological targeting reagent (no antigen/epitope specificity). No item-specific data are provided in the Product Data.