58140.12CeCerium
Cerium (Ce) — element 58lanthanide · period 6
Cerium is a chemical element with the symbol Ce and atomic number 58. It is a lanthanide in period 6 of the periodic table (the f-block), with a standard atomic mass of 140.12 u. At room temperature (25 °C) cerium is a solid.
💡 Known for: The most abundant rare-earth metal; used in lighter flints, glass polishing and catalytic converters.
# Cerium properties
| Symbol | Ce |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 58 |
| Atomic mass | 140.12 u |
| Category | lanthanide |
| Group | — (f-block, no group number) |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | f-block |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹ 5d¹ 6s² |
| Full configuration | 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹ 6s² |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2 |
| Protons / electrons | 58 / 58 |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Melting point | 1068 K (794.9 °C, 1462.7 °F) |
| Boiling point | 3716 K (3442.8 °C, 6229.1 °F) |
| Density | 6.77 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.12 |
| First ionization energy | 5.539 eV |
| Atomic radius | 185 pm |
| Discovered | 1803 |
# Electron configuration of cerium
The electron configuration of cerium is [Xe] 4f¹ 5d¹ 6s², written out in full as 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹ 6s². Its 58 electrons fill 6 shells as 2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2, so the outermost shell holds 2 electrons.
# Related elements
LaLanthanumprevious elementPrPraseodymiumnext elementNdNeodymiumlanthanidePmPromethiumlanthanideSmSamariumlanthanideEuEuropiumlanthanideGdGadoliniumlanthanideTbTerbiumlanthanideDyDysprosiumlanthanideHoHolmiumlanthanide
# Cerium FAQ
What is the atomic number of cerium?
The atomic number of cerium is 58: every cerium atom has 58 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Ce.
What is the atomic mass of cerium?
The standard atomic mass of cerium is 140.12 u.
What is the electron configuration of cerium?
Cerium's electron configuration is [Xe] 4f¹ 5d¹ 6s² (1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹ 6s²), with 2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2 electrons per shell.
Is cerium a metal?
Yes. Cerium is a lanthanide, one of the metals.
What is the melting point of cerium?
Cerium melts at 1068 K (794.9 °C, 1462.7 °F) and boils at 3716 K (3442.8 °C, 6229.1 °F).
What is cerium used for / known for?
The most abundant rare-earth metal; used in lighter flints, glass polishing and catalytic converters.