Cerium

Symbol CeAtomic number 58
Atomic mass
140.12
Thermal conductivity
0.114
Atomic radius
2.70
Covalent radius
1.65
Density
6.78
Atomic volume
20.6
Melting point
1071
Oxidation states
3,4
Boiling point
3699
Stable isotopes
4
Heat of vapor.
414.0
Electronegativity
1.12
Heat of fusion
5.46
First ionization
5.54
Specific heat
0.19
Electrical conduct.
...
Electron configuration

General descriptionNuclear data
Index

Periodic Table

Chemistry concepts
 
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Cerium

As a member of the fourteen member lanthanide series, this element has few properties which distinguish it from the other members of the series. All of them along with lanthanum, yttrium, and scandium occur in very small quantities in nature. The usual source is the mineral monazite, or monazite sand, which is a mixture of phosphates containing also some thorium phosphate. Minerals that contain cerium along with lanthanum are Parisite, bastnaesite, and allanite. Cerium is also found in the mineral hibonite. Cerium appears in the silicate mineral joaquinite and the oxide mineral euxenite. It appears with uranium and yttrium in samarskite.

An alloy of about 70% cerium and smaller amounts of the other lanthanons and iron has the property of giving off sparks when scratched. It is widely used in gas lighters and igniters.

Cerium monosulfide, CeS, is very hard and has a high melting temperature (2450°C), so it has found use in making refractory vessels.

Cerium has been used in the manufacture of mantles for gas lanterns. The fabric of the mantles is saturated with thorium nitrate and cerium nitrate. The burning of the mantles leaves a residue of thorium and cerium dioxides. This residue glows with a brilliant white luminescence when heated to a high temperature by the gas flame. The presence of the thorium makes these mantles slightly radioactive, so recent mantles have replaced these oxides with other illuminants.

Atomic dataNuclear data
Index

Periodic Table

Chemistry concepts

Reference
Pauling
Ch. 26
 
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Cerium Nuclear Data

Z
A
Atomic
Mass (u)
Nuclear
Mass(GeV/c2
Binding
Energy(MeV)
Spin
Natural
Abund.
Half-life
Decay
Q
MeV
58
136
135.907139
126.5681
1138.8
0
0.0019
stable
...
...
58
138
137.905985
128.4300
1156.1
0
0.0025
stable
...
...
58
139
138.906631
129.3621
1163.5
3/2
...
137.2d
EC
...
58
140
139.905433
130.2925
1172.7
0
0.8848
stable
...
...
58
142
141.909241
132.1590
1185.3
0
0.1108
stable
...
...
58
144
143.913643
134.0262
1197.4
0
...
284.4d
b-
0.32
Atomic data
Index

Periodic Table

Chemistry concepts

Reference
Rohlf
 
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