Consequently, what is cerium oxide used for?
Because cerium oxide is remarkably insoluble in water and in dilute acid. It is commonly used as an abrasive; the powder is used in the grinding/polishing of other materials. For many years, it was used for polishing specialized glass (telescope mirrors, for example).
Subsequently, question is, how do you dissolve cerium oxide? The better way to dissolve CeO2 is using HCl. The dissolving behavior very much depends on the history of the CeO2. CeO2 annealed at high temperatures dissolves really very slowly. Irradiated CeO2 (in a nuclear reactor) also may dissolve much more slowly.
Just so, how does cerium oxide polish glass?
First, saturate your polishing felt with warm water, and then make a thin paste containing 2 parts cerium oxide mixed well with 1 part warm* water. Put cerium oxide paste evenly on the polishing felt. Turn the polisher on and apply to the glass in a scrubbing or ironing motion, never just a back-and-forth motion.
Why is the name cerium oxide ambiguous?
The name cerium oxide is ambiguous because it does not indicate the charge for Cerium (cation).