| Name | cerium |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Ce |
| Atomic Weight | 140.116 |
| Atomic Number | 58 |
| CAS ID | 7440-45-1 |
| Group Number | (none) |
| Group Name | Lanthanoid |
| Period Number | 6 |
| Origin of Name | Named after the asteroid Ceres, discovered in 1801 |
| Year Discovered | 1803 |
| Discovery Credits | Discovered by J. J. Berzelius and W. Hisinger at Vestmanland, Sweden. First isolated by W. F. Hillebrand and T. H. Norton in 1875 at Washington, DC, USA |
| Class | Metallic |
| Color | Silvery white |
| Standard State | Solid at 77 F & 298 K |
| Description | Reactive, gray metal, most abundant of the (Rare Earth) lanthanide metals. Tarnishes
in air, burns when heated, reacts rapidly with water, dissolved in acids.
Used in glass, gas mantles, ceramics, and alloys. Misch alloy ( predominantly
Ce) is used for lighter "flints". Diagnostic tests: |