Ce
Cerium
Element 58 · Lanthanide
Cerium (Ce)
Cerium is the most abundant rare-earth element. It is a soft, iron-grey metal that sparks when scratched.
- Lanthanide
- Period 6
- f-block series
- f-block
- solid at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 140.116
- u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2
- Melting point
- 797.9 °C
- 1,071 K
- Boiling point
- 3,423.9 °C
- 3,697 K
- Density
- 6.77 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 1.12
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 235 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 5.539 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about cerium
- 01
Lighter flints are made of ferrocerium, an alloy rich in cerium.
- 02
Cerium oxide is the standard compound for polishing glass and lenses.
- 03
It is about as common in Earth’s crust as copper.
Applications
What is cerium used for?
- Glass polishing
- Lighter flints
- Catalytic converters
- Self-cleaning ovens
History
Discovery & name origin
Discovered by
Year
Where
Sweden
Name origin
From the dwarf planet Ceres, discovered two years earlier.
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 58
- Atomic mass
- 140.116 u
- Group
- Lanthanides (3)
- Period
- 6
- Block
- f-block
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 5d1 4f1
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.12
- Electron affinity
- 0.5 eV
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 235 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 4
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (+4, +3).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st534.4
- 2nd1,050
- 3rd1,949
- 4th3,547
- 5th6,325
- 6th7,490
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Melting point
- 1,071 K · 797.9 °C · 1,468.1 °F
- Boiling point
- 3,697 K · 3,423.9 °C · 6,194.9 °F
- Density
- 6.77 g/cm³
- Molar heat capacity
- 26.94 J/(mol·K)
- Appearance
- Silvery white
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Cerium questions
What is Ce on the periodic table?
Ce is the symbol for cerium, element 58 on the periodic table. It sits in period 6, in the f-block, in the lanthanide category, and has an atomic mass of 140.116.
What is the atomic number of cerium?
Cerium has atomic number 58, so every cerium atom has 58 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Ce and its atomic mass is 140.116.
Who discovered cerium?
Cerium was discovered by Jöns Jacob Berzelius and Wilhelm Hisinger in 1803 (Sweden). The name comes from from the dwarf planet Ceres, discovered two years earlier.
What is cerium used for?
Cerium is used for: glass polishing; lighter flints; catalytic converters; self-cleaning ovens.
Is cerium a metal?
Yes. Cerium is a lanthanide, one of the metallic elements.
What is the electron configuration of cerium?
The electron configuration of cerium is [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2. Its 58 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2.