Overview
Caesium hydroxide is a strong base containing the highly reactive alkali metal caesium, much like the other alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. It is the strongest of the five alkali metal hydroxides. Fused caesium hydroxide has applications in bringing glass samples into a solution for analytical purposes in the commercial glass industry and a defense waste processing facility as it is able to dissolve glass by attacking its silica framework. The melting process is carried out in a nickel or zirconium crucible. Caesium hydroxide fusion at 750°C produces complete dissolution of glass pellets.