Cerium (Ce) – Periodic Table [Element Information & More]

cerium element periodic table

Cerium element (Ce) is in period 6 of a periodic table. Cerium is in the f-block and it is classified as a lanthanide on the periodic table.

There is a lot more information related to cerium which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.

So let’s dive right into it!

Table of contents

Cerium Element (Information Table)

The important data related to cerium element is given in the table below.

Appearance of ceriumSilvery white appearance
Atomic number of cerium58
Symbol of ceriumCe
Atomic mass of cerium140.12 u
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in ceriumProtons: 58, Neutrons: 82, Electrons: 58
State of cerium (at STP)Solid
Period number of cerium in periodic table6
Block of cerium in periodic tablef-block
Category of ceriumInner transition metals
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in cerium2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2
Electron configuration of cerium[Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2
Orbital diagram of ceriumorbital diagram of cerium
Electronegativity of cerium (on pauling scale)1.12
Atomic radius of cerium (van der Waals radius)235 picometers
Density of cerium6.69 g/cm3
1st ionization energy of cerium5.539 eV
Main isotope of cerium140Ce
Melting point of cerium1068 K or 795 °C or 1463 °F
Boiling point of cerium3716 K or 3443 °C or 6229 °F
Crystal structure of ceriumFace Centered Cubic (FCC) at room temp.
Discovery of ceriumBy Wilhelm Hisinger, Jöns Jakob Berzelius, Martin Heinrich Klaproth (in 1803)

Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).

Cerium element in Periodic table

The Cerium element (Ce) has the atomic number 58 and is located in period 6. Cerium is a metal and it is classified as a lanthanide group element.

H He
Li Be B C N O F Ne
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
Cs Ba La* Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
Fr Ra Ac** Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
*Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
**Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr

Facts about cerium

Here are a few interesting facts about cerium element.

  1. Cerium was given its name from the dwarf planet “Ceres”.
  2. The concentration of cerium in the earth’s crust is around 60 ppm by weight.
  3. Cerium has a largest deposition in India, Brazil and California.
  4. Cerium was discovered by Wilhelm Hisinger & Jons Jakob Berzelius in 1803. And the chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth also individually discovered the cerium element in the same year.

Properties of cerium

Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of cerium.

Physical properties of cerium

  • Cerium has a silvery white metallic appearance.
  • Cerium has a density of 6.69 g/cm3 and its atomic mass is 140.12 amu.
  • Cerium can be drawn into thin sheets due to its malleability.
  • The melting point and boiling point of cerium is 1068 K and 3716 K respectively.
  • Cerium has many isotopes, but the most abundant isotope is 140Ce.
  • Cerium has FCC crystal structure at room temperature.

Chemical properties of cerium

  • Cerium is a reactive metal and so it is always found in compounds from the earth’s crust.
  • Cerium also reacts with dilute acids as well as concentrated acids.
  • Cerium forms an oxide layer on it when it is kept open in the air for a longer time.
  • Cerium has an electronegativity of 1.12 on the pauling scale.

Uses of cerium

Here are some uses of the cerium element.

  • Cerium is used in catalytic converters to treat the exhaust gas from the vehicles.
  • Cerium oxide is a compound of cerium which is used as an additive in diesel fuel for improving the performance of diesel engines.
  • Cerium is used in carbon arc lighting that is used in studio lighting.
  • Cerium is also used in the alloy that is used in cigarette lighters.

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