Electronic data		Thermal data		Steric data
Shells: 2,8,18,20,8,2 Orbitals: [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2 Electronegativity: 1.1, -- 1. Ionization potential: 5.5387 eV 2. Ionization potential: 10.851 eV 3. Ionization potential: 20.20 eV Oxidation states: 4,3 Electrical conductivity: 0.0115 10^6		Melting point: 798 °C ±3 Boiling point: 3433 °C Specific heat: 0.19 J/gK Heat of fusion: 5.460 kJ/mol Heat of vaporization: 414.0 kJ/mol Thermal conductivity: 0.114 W/cmK		Atomic radius: 2.70 Å Ionic radius: 1.14 Å () Covalent radius: 1.65 Å Atomic volume: 20.67 cm³/mol Density (293 K): 6.78 g/cm³ Crystal structure: Cubic: Face centered

Nuclide	Abundance [%]	Mass	Spin	Halflife	Decay mode	Decay tree
134Ce	0	134	0	3016d	EC	View
136Ce	0.193	135.907	1/2	--	stable	--
138Ce	0.25	137.906	0	--	stable	--
139Ce	0	139	3/2	137.6d	EC	View
140Ce	88.48	139.905	0	--	stable	--
141Ce	0	141	7/2	32.50d	-	View
142Ce	11.07	141.909	0	--	stable	--
143Ce	0	143	3/2	1.38d	-	View
144Ce	0	144	0	284.6d	-,b-	View

Legend

Name origin:	Named after the asteroid, Ceres, discovered two years before the element.
Description:	Malleable, ductile, iron-gray metal.
Discovered by:	W. von Hisinger, J. Berzelius, M. Klaproth
Year:	1803
Place:	Sweden/Germany
Sources:	Most abundant rare earth metal. Found in many minerals like monazite sand [Ce(PO4)].
Use(s):	Its oxides are used in the optics and glass-making industries. Its salts are used in the photography and textile industry. Used in high-intensity carbon lamps and as alloying agents in special metals.