58CeCerium140.1161[Xe] 4f¹ 5d¹ 6s²
lanthanide
Cerium
Cerium is a chemical element with symbol Ce and atomic number 58. It is a soft, silvery, ductile metal which easily oxidizes in air. Cerium was named after the dwarf planet Ceres (itself named after the Roman goddess of agriculture).
A stylized shell model. Electrons are quantum objects, not particles following these literal paths. Sizes and motion are illustrative.
Electrons by shell
Electron configuration
4f1
5d1
6s2
54 is the [Xe] core total across five shells.
At a glance
- Atomic number
- 58
- Atomic mass
- 140.1161 u
- Phase
- Solid
- Density
- 6.77 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 1,068 K
- Boiling point
- 3,716 K
- First ionization energy
- 534.4 kJ/mol
- Electronegativity
- 1.12
- Electron affinity
- 55 kJ/mol
- Molar heat capacity
- 26.94 J/(mol·K)
- Period
- 6
- Appearance
- silvery white
Conditions and isotopes affect measured properties. Some properties of short-lived elements are predicted. Electronegativity uses the Pauling scale.
Keep exploring
Explore the stories, imagery, and reference data in more depth. Properties with no value in the reference are marked unavailable.