Rhodium (Rh)
"The Priceless Protector, one of the most valuable heroes, who cleans up the toxic fumes from cars."
A memorable persona to anchor Rh in your mind.
12.41
Grams per cm³
1963
Celsius (°C)
195
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
Rhodium is found in the catalytic converter in a car�s exhaust system.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1803
Discovered By
William Hyde Wollaston
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from the Greek ''rhodon'', meaning rose coloured."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
102.906 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
3695°C
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d85s1
1st Ionization Energy
7.459 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"Rhodium is a hard, silvery-white, reflective metal."
Did You Know?
It is one of the rarest and most valuable precious metals in the world, often costing much more than gold or platinum.
The vast majority of rhodium produced is used in automotive catalytic converters to reduce harmful nitrogen oxide emissions.
Because it is extremely hard and has a brilliant, silvery-white reflective surface, it is often used to plate 'white gold' and sterling silver jewelry to protect it from tarnishing and scratches.
Its name comes from the Greek word 'rhodon', meaning 'rose', because its chlorine compounds form a rose-colored solution in water.