Cerium (Ce) – element 58
Cerium is a chemical element with the symbol Ce and atomic number 58. It is a lanthanide in group 3 (lanthanides), period 6 of the periodic table (f-block), and is a solid at room temperature.
Cerium (Ce) has atomic number 58, atomic mass 140.12 u and electron configuration [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2.
Cerium facts
| Symbol | Ce |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 58 |
| Atomic mass | 140.12 u (g/mol) |
| Category | lanthanide |
| Group | group 3 (lanthanides) |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | f-block |
| Phase at 20 °C | Solid |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 5d1 4f1 |
| Noble-gas notation | [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2 |
Bohr model and shells
Cerium has 58 electrons in 6 shells: 2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2. Full configuration and noble-gas notation are in the table; work out any element or ion with the electron configuration calculator.
Physical and atomic properties
| Melting point | 1068 K (794.9 °C) |
|---|---|
| Boiling point | 3716 K (3442.8 °C) |
| Density | 6.77 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.12 |
| Electron affinity | 55 kJ/mol |
| Ionization energies | 534.4, 1050, 1949 kJ/mol (1st, 2nd, 3rd) |
| Molar heat capacity | 26.94 J/(mol·K) |
| Discovered by | Martin Heinrich Klaproth |
Use the atomic mass in the molar mass calculator for any formula containing Ce.
Position in the periodic table
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Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic mass of cerium?
The atomic mass of cerium is 140.12 u, so one mole of cerium atoms weighs 140.12 g.
What is the electron configuration of cerium?
Cerium has 58 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 5d¹ 4f¹, or [Xe] 4f¹ 5d¹ 6s² in noble-gas notation. Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2.
Is cerium a metal?
Yes. Cerium is a lanthanide.
Where is cerium on the periodic table?
Cerium is in group 3 (lanthanides), period 6, in the f-block.
Data: Periodic-Table-JSON (CC BY-SA 3.0); standard atomic weights from IUPAC (abridged). Values in brackets are the mass number of the longest-lived isotope.