Definition

Noun: * A chemical element: "atomic number 58" is the scientific designation for the chemical element Cerium (symbol Ce). It is a ductile, silvery-grey, metallic element belonging to the lanthanide series on the periodic table.

Usage

• "Atomic number 58" is used primarily in scientific, technical, and educational contexts to precisely identify the element Cerium by its fundamental property—the number of protons in its nucleus.
• In everyday language, the element is almost always referred to by its common name, Cerium.

Examples

• Scientific Context:
  • The sample was found to contain traces of atomic number 58.
  • Elements like atomic number 58 are crucial components in catalytic converters.

Advanced Usage

• Property Reference: The term is used to discuss elemental properties systematically, e.g., "Elements with an atomic number higher than 58 are typically denser."
• Classification: It explicitly places the element in the lanthanide series and the broader group of rare-earth elements.

Variants and Related Words

• Cerium (Ce): The common name for the element designated by atomic number 58.
• Rare-earth element: A classification group to which Cerium (atomic number 58) belongs.
• Lanthanide: The specific series within the periodic table containing atomic number 58.

Synonyms

• Cerium: The direct and most common synonym.
• Element Ce: Another technical synonym using the element's symbol.

Notes

• "Atomic number 58" is not an idiom or a phrasal verb. It is a fixed technical noun phrase.
• The key characteristic of atomic number 58 (Cerium) mentioned in the reference is that it is the most abundant of the rare-earth elements.

Noun

1. a ductile grey metallic element of the lanthanide series; used in lighter flints; the most abundant of the rare-earth group