rhodium (Rh)
A moderately hard, silvery-white, metallic element
belonging to the platinum group of
transition elements. Rhodium
was discovered by William Wollaston in
London in 1803; its name comes from the Greek rhodon meaning "rose."
It occurs associated with platinum and
its chief source is a by-product of nickel
smelting.
Rhodium resists tarnishing and corrosion;
it is used in hard platinum alloys, as a mirror
surface, to plate jewellery, and in an alloy with platinum as a catalyst
in the Ostwald process. Its most
common isotope is 103Rh (100%).
| atomic number |
45 |
| relative atomic mass |
102.91 |
| electron configuration |
[Kr]4d8 5s1 |
| relative density |
12.4 |
| melting point |
1,966°C (3,571°F) |
| boiling point |
3,727°C (6,741°F) |
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