21 Rhenium Facts: Read About This Silvery-Gray Color Metal

Rhenium is a silver-gray color metal and one of the rarest elements in the world.

Rhenium is a fascinating element with several interesting properties, making it essential for various applications. For example, it is the most corrosion-resistant element globally and has a very high melting point.

Rhenium is found in Group 7 of the periodic table with the atomic number 75 and is a member of the platinum group metals. Rhenium is a rare earth element and is not often found in nature. However, here are 21 facts about this unique metal.

Discovery Of Rhenium

Rhenium is a silver-gray metal with the highest melting point among all the elements. The discovery of the metal can be traced back to 1900. The element was found in Platinum ores, gadolinite, and molybdenite. Here's how the element is discovered.

The symbol of Rhenium is Re, and its atomic number in the periodic table is 75 and is the rarest metal. It can be found in the third row of transition metal in Group 7 in the periodic table.

The atomic weight of Rhenium is 186.207 u. The symbol representing atomic weight is 'u.'

Rhenium is a silver-white metal with similar properties to Manganese.

Rhenium was initially found in minerals and ores and was discovered in 1908 by scientists Otto Berg, Walter Noddack, and Ida Tacke Noddack.

Pure Rhenium element was named after a river in Europe, the Rhine River.

Rhenium element is the second last-stable element placed in a group of transition metals (metal elements).

In 1925, trio scientists discovered Rhenium in the Platinum ores.

Uses Of Rhenium

The uses of Rhenium are numerous as it ranges from the composition of metal products and acting as a catalyst. This metallic element is used in the petroleum industry and aerospace industry. Here are some interesting facts about the uses of Rhenium and its properties.

Rhenium acted as a superalloy for Nickel-based elements used for combustion nozzles of a jet engine, turbine blades, and chambers. All these alloys contain 6% of Rhenium.

The second use of Rhenium can act as a catalyst for hydrogenation and isomerization.

Rhenium (Re) is also used in manganese alloys known as superconductors. An example of one such alloy is Rhenium-molybdenum alloys.

A few of the Rhenium's fascinating properties are its good wear resistance and ability to withstand corrosion. Hence, it is commonly used as fine chemicals and in electrical material as electrical contact material.

Rhenium metal is also used as an additive in minerals tungsten and molybdenum alloy used for oven filaments and x-ray machines, tungsten rhenium.

One of the medicinal properties of Rhenium-platinum alloy is it can be used as a Rhenium catalyst for catalytic reforming, which can be used in medical treatments. The combination of rhenium elements used to treat liver cancer are Rhenium 188 and Rhenium 186.

Importance Of Rhenium

Rhenium is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust; hence it can be found free in nature. Find more interesting facts about the importance of Rhenium facts.

Rhenium is the 77th abundant metal in the Earth's crust. It is found only in small amounts in minerals and ores like molybdenite and rarely in Platinum.

The elements don't occur in mineable mineral species and are widespread in Earth's crust to about 0.01 parts per million.

Though found in minerals, the Rhenium element has no mineral characteristics and is detected to have certain ores of Platinum and molybdenum. The first commercial Rhenium production was extracted from molybdenum smelters flue dust.

Annually, Rhenium only about 40-50 tons (80,000- 100,000 lb) is produced, and most of it comes from Chilean ores.

Characteristics and Features

Being a rare, silver-white, dense metal, Rhenium has interesting characteristics. Find more about the aspects and features of Rhenium.

Rhenium is the third transition metal with the highest melting points, making it the third densest element.

This silver-gray metal has the third-highest boiling point, making it the ideal element for jet engines, and its high resistance can be used in places where it requires exposure to extreme heat.

Rhenium has the fourth-highest transition metals with the highest density.

Radioactive isotope or stable isotope means elements that would not undergo radioactive decay. It is one of the three elements with stable isotopes, which is less abundant than radioisotope.

Rhenium is the final element discovered with at least one stable isotope among the five primary refractory metals. These refractory metals include tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, and niobium.

FAQs

Q: What are some fun facts about Rhenium?

A: Rhenium is named after the European Rhine River that flows through Germany. It is the 77th rarest element on Earth. Therefore, it doesn't occur in the uncombined nature or a mineable mineral species.

Q: Is Rhenium poisonous?

A: No, Rhenium is not poisonous. Rhenium is a non-toxic element, and it is safe to handle.

Q: Where is Rhenium found naturally?

A: Rhenium is found in nature as rhenium-187, a radioactive isotope of the metal. Rhenium can be found in small amounts in various minerals and ores such as molybdenite (an ore of molybdenum), copper sulfide ores, gold ores, and uranium ores.

Q: What are the three uses of Rhenium?

A: Some of the key uses of Rhenium include the production of superalloys for jet engines and other high-temperature applications, acts as catalysts for oil refining and petrochemical processes, X-ray tubes, medical radiation therapy equipment, and other scientific instruments.

Q: How strong is Rhenium?

A: Rhenium is a very strong metal. It has a tensile strength of about 800 MPa, comparable to steel. Rhenium is also resistant to corrosion and has a high melting point.

Q: How did Rhenium get its name?

A: The element rhenium was named after the Rhein River, Germany. The Rhein River is where one of the first Rhenium deposits was found.