SoftwareEducation
Cerium (Ce)
Element with atomic number 58, category: Lanthanide, a solid at room temperature.
Element 58 of 118
Lanthanide
Cerium
Group 4, Period 6 (lanthanide series)
Common Uses
Lighter flints
Electron Diagram
About Cerium
Cerium is a chemical element with the symbol Ce and atomic number 58, meaning every atom has 58 protons in its nucleus. It is classed as Lanthanide and is a solid at room temperature. Its atomic mass is about 140.116 atomic mass units (u).
On the periodic table, Cerium sits in group 4, period 6 (lanthanide series), which determines how many electron shells it has and how it tends to react with other elements.
Uses of Cerium
In daily life and industry, Cerium is used for Lighter flints. These uses are closely tied to the typical properties of elements in the Lanthanide category.
Electron Structure of Cerium
Using a simplified electron shell model (at most 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second, 18 in the third, and so on), Cerium has 4 electron shells, with an approximate arrangement of 2, 8, 18, 30 electrons from the innermost shell to the outermost. This is a simplified learning model, not the full electron configuration that accounts for the s, p, d and f subshells.
Explore Other Elements
Want to see another element or try the element symbol quiz? Go back to the Interactive Periodic Table to explore all 118 chemical elements.