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   Rh

RHODIUM

(Gr. rhodon, rose)

Rh  at. wt. 102.905
     at. no. 45 
     m.p.  1966±3°C 
     b.p. 3727±100°C
     sp. gr. 12.41 (20°C)
     valence 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Rhodium was discovered in 1803 by Wollaston in crude platinum ore he presumably obtained from South America. Rhodium occurs native with other platinum metals in river sands of the Urals and in North and South America. It is also found with other platinum metals in the copper-nickel sulfide ores of the Sudbury, Ontario, region. Although the quantity occurring here is very small, the large tonnages of nickel processed makes the recovery commercially feasible. The annual world production of rhodium is only two or three tons. The metal is silvery white and at red heat slowly changes in air to the sesquioxide. At higher temperatures it converts back to the element. Rhodium has a higher melting point and lower density than platinum. Its major use is as an alloying agent to harden platinum and palladium. Such alloys are used for furnace windings, thermocouple elements, bushings for glass fiber production, electrodes for aircraft spark plugs, and laboratory crucibles. It is useful as an electrical contact material as it has a low electrical resistance, a low and stable contact resistance, and is highly resistant to corrosion. Plated rhodium, produced by electroplating or evaporation, is exceptionally hard and is used for optical instruments. It has a high reflectance and is hard and durable. Rhodium is also used for jewelry, for decoration, and as a catalyst. Rhodium in smafl quantities costs about 59/gm. or 5225/troy ounce.

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