So named (Latin Ceres) in 1804 by its discoverers, Baron Jöns Jakob Berzelius and W. Hisinger, Swedish mineralogists, after the recently discovered asteroid, Ceres) A gray chemical element, the most abundant of the rare-earth metals. It is used in alloys, electronic components, and nuclear fuel.

Symbol: Ce
Atomic number: 58
Atomic weight: 140.116
Density (at room temperature and pressure): 6.77 g/cc
Melting point: 798°C
Boiling point: 3,430°C
Valence: +3, +4
Ground state electron configuration: [Xe]4f¹5d¹6s²

Cerium
Symbol: Ce
Atomic Number: 58
Atomic Weight: 140.12
Boiling Point: 3715 K
Melting Point: 1071 K
Density at 300K: 6.77 g/cm³
Covalent radius: 1.65
Atomic radius: 2.70
Atomic volume: 21.0 cm³/mol
First ionization potental: 5.47 V
Specific heat capacity: 0.19 Jg^-1K^-1
Thermal conductivity: 11.4 Wm^-1K^-1
Electrical conductivity: 1.4 10⁶Ω^-1m^-1
Heat of fusion: 9.20 kJ/mol
Heat of vaporization: 313.8 kJ/mol
Electronegativity: 1.12 (Pauling's)

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Ce"ri*um (?), n. [Named by Berzelius in 1803 from the asteroid Ceres, then just discovered (1801).] Chem.

A rare metallic element, occurring in the minerals cerite, allanite, monazite, etc. Symbol Ce. Atomic weight 141.5. It resembles iron in color and luster, but is soft, and both malleable and ductile. It tarnishes readily in the air.

 

© Webster 1913.