Quick answerCerium (Ce) is a lanthanide with atomic number 58 and an atomic mass of 140.12 (2023), in period 6. It was discovered by Berzelius, Hisinger, and Klaproth in 1803. It is used for glass polishing and lighter flints. Its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2.
Cerium is the most abundant rare earth, polishing glass lenses and sparking cigarette lighters with its flints.
Key facts
| Symbol | Ce |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 58 |
| Atomic mass | 140.12 (IUPAC standard atomic weight, 2023) |
| Category | lanthanide |
| Group | — (f-block element, no group number) |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | f-block |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2 |
| Discovered | Berzelius, Hisinger, and Klaproth, 1803 |
| Uses | glass polishing, lighter flints, catalytic converters, self-cleaning ovens, phosphors |
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Periodic table — all 118 elements
- Lanthanum (La) — another lanthanide, atomic number 57
- Praseodymium (Pr) — another lanthanide, atomic number 59
- Neodymium (Nd) — another lanthanide, atomic number 60
- Promethium (Pm) — another lanthanide, atomic number 61
- Samarium (Sm) — another lanthanide, atomic number 62
- Europium (Eu) — another lanthanide, atomic number 63
- Gadolinium (Gd) — another lanthanide, atomic number 64
- Terbium (Tb) — another lanthanide, atomic number 65
- Dysprosium (Dy) — another lanthanide, atomic number 66
- Holmium (Ho) — another lanthanide, atomic number 67
- All lanthanide elements — on the periodic table
Sources & last updated
- CIAAW — Standard Atomic Weights
- PubChem Periodic Table
- Wikipedia — Timeline of chemical element discoveries
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.