Chemistry

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Chemistry

Cerium Facts

Chemical & Physical Properties

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com

Cerium is a silvery metal that quickly tarnishes in air to resemble iron in color and luster.

Cerium is a silvery metal that quickly tarnishes in air to resemble iron in color and luster.

RTC, wikipedia.org
Periodic Table of the Elements

Cerium

Atomic Number: 58

Symbol: Ce

Atomic Weight: 140.115

Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)

Discovered By: W. von Hisinger, J. Berzelius, M. Klaproth

Discovery Date: 1803 (Sweden/Germany)

Name Origin: Named after the asteroid Ceres, discovered two years before the element.

Density (g/cc) near r.t.: 6.757

Melting Point (°K): 1072

Boiling Point (°K): 3699

Appearance: Malleable, ductile, iron-gray metal

Atomic Radius (pm): 181

Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 21.0

Covalent Radius (pm): 165

Ionic Radius: 92 (+4e) 103.4 (+3e)

Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol): 0.205

Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 5.2

Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 398

Pauling Negativity Number: 1.12

First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 540.1

Oxidation States: 4, 3

Electronic Configuration: [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2

Lattice Structure: Face-Centered Cubic (FCC)

Lattice Constant (Å): 5.160

Electrons per Shell: 2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2

Phase: Solid

Liquid Density at m.p.: 6.55 g·cm−3

Heat of Fusion: 5.46 kJ·mol−1

Heat of Vaporization: 398 kJ·mol−1

Heat Capacity (25 °C): 26.94 J·mol−1·K−1

Electronegativity: 1.12 (Pauling scale)

Atomic Radius: 185 pm

Electrical Resistivity (r.t.): (β, poly) 828 nΩ·m

Thermal Conductivity (300 K): 11.3  W·m−1·K−1

Thermal Expansion (r.t.): (γ, poly) 6.3 µm/(m·K)

Speed of Sound (thin rod) (20 °C): 2100 m/s

Young's Modulus (γ form): 33.6 GPa

Shear Modulus (γ form): 13.5 GPa

Bulk Modulus (γ form): 21.5 GPa

Poisson Ratio (γ form): 0.24

Mohs Hardness: 2.5

Vickers Hardness: 270 MPa

Brinell Hardness: 412 MPa

CAS Registry Number: 7440-45-1

Sources: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Lange's Handbook of Chemistry (1952)

Return to the Periodic Table

Explore Chemistry

More from About.com

Chemistry

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Chemistry
  4. Periodic Table & Elements
  5. Element Facts
  6. Cerium Facts - Periodic Table of the Elements

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.