Cerium (Ce)

Cerium is a chemical element with symbol Ce and atomic number 58. It is a soft, silvery, ductile metal which easily oxidizes in air.

Atomic Number

58

Atomic Mass

140.12 u

Category

lanthanide

Phase

solid

Density

6.77 g/cm³

Electron Shells

2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2

Atomic Structure

Protons: 58 • Electrons: 58 • Neutrons: Varies by isotope

Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹ 5d¹

Discovery

1803 • Martin Heinrich Klaproth, Jöns Jakob Berzelius, Wilhelm Hisinger