Cerium

Cerium Element Properties

f57
La
Lanthanum
f58
Ce
Cerium
f59
Pr
Praseodymium
General
NameCerium
SymbolCe
Number58
Group NumberNA
GroupRare Earth, Lanthanide series
Blockf
Density6.78 g/cm3
Atomic Weight140.12 g/mol
Atomic Volume20.67 cm3/mol
Discover1803


States
StateSolid
Melting Point1068 K
Boiling Point3716 K
Triple PointNil
Critical PointNil
Heat of Fusion5.46 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization398 kJ/mol


Energies
First Ionization Energy527.4 kJ/mole
Second Ionization Energy1047 kJ/mole
Third Ionization Energy1949 kJ/mole
Electronegativity1.12
Electron Affinity50 kJ/mole
Specific Heat0.19 J/gK
Heat Atomization419 kJ/mole atoms


Oxidation and Electrons
Shells2,8,18,20,8,2
Electron Configuration[Xe] 4f2 6s2
Minimum Oxidation Number0
Maximum Oxidation Number4
Minimum Common Oxidation Number0
Maximum Common Oxidation Number4


Appearance and Characteristics
Crystal Structurecubic face centered
Characteristicsmalleable
Colorsilvery-white
Usesself-cleaning ovens(CeO2)
HardnessNil
ToxicityNone


Reactions
Reaction with Airvigorous, w/ht =>CeO2
Reaction with 6M HClvigorous, =>H2, CeCl3
Reaction with 15M HNO3mild, =>Ce(NO3)3
Reaction with 6M NaOHNone


Other Forms
Number of Isotopes4
HydrideCeH2 CeH3
OxideCe2O3 CeO2
ChlorideCeCl3


Radius
Atomic Radius182 pm
Ionic Radius (1+ ion)Nil
Ionic Radius (1- ion)Nil
Ionic Radius (2+ ion)Nil
Ionic Radius (2- ion)Nil
Ionic Radius (3+ ion)115 pm


Conductivity
Thermal Conductivity11.3 J/m-sec-deg
Electrical Conductivity13.333 1/mohm-cm
Polarizability29.6 A3


Abundance
SourceMonazite(phosphate),bastnaesite
Relation Abundance Solar System0.055 log
Abundance Earth's Crust1.8 log


f57
La
Lanthanum
f58
Ce
Cerium
f59
Pr
Praseodymium