Catechols produce quinones with the addition of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN). CeO. Solutions of ceric sulfate have a strong yellow color. Oxidative decomplexation of cyclobutadiene is achieved by treating the tricarbonyl complex with ceric ammonium nitrate. A related compound is ceric ammonium sulfate. For screening WOCs, ceric ammonium nitrate is a typical electron acceptor. Ceric potassium nitrate also has a hydrate with 1.5 mols of water. Ceric ammonium nitrate is used as an oxidising agent to destroy in spills. When ceric compounds are reduced, so-called "cerous" compounds are formed. The ceric ion is a strong oxidizer, especially under acidic conditions. Ceric nitrate is quite soluble in non polar solvents such as ethyl ether. In nitric acid nitrato ceric acid (H[Ce(NO)] and H[Ce(NO).HO]) is present.