Cerium is element number 58, with the symbol Ce. Its name comes from the asteroid Ceres, which bears the name of Ceres, the god of agriculture.
Atomic number 58140.1
CeCeriumセリウム (seriumu)
Symbol
Ce
Atomic weight
140.1
Place in the table
Period 6 · Lanthanoids
Atomic weight from the Chemical Society of Japan, “Table of Standard Atomic Weights with Four Significant Figures (2026)”.
A god of agriculture and an asteroid
Ceres is the Roman god of agriculture. Cerium was named after the asteroid with the same name. It was discovered in 1803.
Where it sits on the table
The fifteen elements from lanthanum to lutetium are called the lanthanoids. On the Room of the Elements table they are in the upper of the two rows set apart at the bottom.
Think about it
Q1Were other elements named after asteroids?
Q2Why do you think the names of gods are used for both stars and elements?
Q3Look up which other elements were found in 1803.
There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.
Did you know? — In 1803, besides cerium, palladium (the asteroid Pallas), rhodium, osmium and iridium were discovered. Two elements named after asteroids were born in the same year.