Rhodium-Discovery, Properties, And Applications

Rhodium is a chemical element with the symbol Rh and atomic number 45. It is a rare, silvery-white, hard, and chemically inert metal. Rhodium is one of the platinum group metals (PGMs) and is found in platinum or nickel ores together with the other PGMs.

Property	Value
Name	Rhodium
Symbol	Rh
Atomic number	45
Relative atomic mass (Ar)	102.90550
Standard state	Solid at 298 K
Appearance	Silvery white metallic
Classification	Metallic
Group in periodic table	9
Group name	Precious metal or Platinum group metal
Block in the periodic table	5
Group in the periodic table	d
Shell structure	2.8.18.16.1
CAS Registry	7440-16-6

Discovery

Rhodium was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, who named it after the Greek word for rose, “rhodon,” because of the pink color of its salts.

Physical Properties

Rhodium is a dense, silvery-white metal that is highly reflective and resistant to corrosion. It has a melting point of 1,964°C and a boiling point of 3,727°C. Rhodium has a high electrical conductivity and is used as a component in electrical contacts and spark plugs.

Chemical Properties

Rhodium is a highly reactive metal and forms various compounds with oxygen, sulfur, and halogens. It is also soluble in aqua regia, a highly corrosive mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid.

Facts

• Rhodium is one of the rarest elements on Earth and is found in very small quantities in platinum ores.
• Rhodium is used as a catalyst in many chemical reactions, including the production of nitric acid and the conversion of ammonia to nitric oxide.
• Rhodium is also used in jewelry and in the plating of white gold to improve its durability and resistance to corrosion.

Applications

Rhodium has many industrial applications due to its unique properties. It is used in the manufacture of optical instruments, electrical contacts, spark plugs, and laboratory crucibles. Rhodium is also used in catalytic converters in automobiles to reduce harmful emissions.

Rhodium is a rare and valuable metal with many unique properties that make it useful in a variety of industrial applications. Its resistance to corrosion and high electrical conductivity make it a popular choice for electrical contacts and spark plugs, while its catalytic properties make it an important component in chemical reactions.