Same solvent-extraction cascade as the other light rare earths; separated further by air-oxidizing Ce³⁺ to Ce⁴⁺, which behaves differently and can be dropped out.
Research Elements Ce · atomic number 58 Lanthanide · period 6 [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2 Shells: 2, 8, 18, 19, 9, 2 Valence electrons: 2 in the outer shell (6s2), and 2 in 4f1 5d1 Green dots are the outer shell's s and p electrons. Softer green dots are the d electrons of transition metals, and the d and f electrons of lanthanides and actinides: they often take part in bonding, but not always. Grey dots are the core. Ground-state configuration from the NIST Atomic Spectra Database (A. Kramida, Yu. Ralchenko, J. Reader and the NIST ASD Team). Abundance is the mole fraction of the element found as that isotope on Earth; digits in parentheses are the uncertainty in the last digits. Masses and abundances from NIST, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (J. S. Coursey, D. J. Schwab, J. J. Tsai and R. A. Dragoset, National Institute of Standards and Technology).Cerium
Electrons
How it's obtained
Natural isotopes
Isotope Relative atomic mass Abundance 136Ce 135.90712921(41) 0.00185(2) 138Ce 137.905991(11) 0.00251(2) 140Ce 139.9054431(23) 0.88450(51) 142Ce 141.9092504(29) 0.11114(51)