Rhodium is a transition metal from the white platinum family, and it is one of the most expensive metals in the world. Its atomic number is 45 and its symbol is Rh.

Rhodium is a silvery-white metal that is very refractory and resistant to oxidation. It is one of the hardest and shinier metals, with a specific hardness of 16.3 (compared to 4.5 for gold and 5.5 for platinum).

Rhodium is highly wettable and highly refractory, making it the optimal metal for polishing and plating precious metals. It is also insensitive to hydrochloric acid and does not react to weak acids.

Rhodium is mainly used in alloys, coatings and in industrial applications. It is also used for plating jewelry and coins. Rhodium is also used as a catalyst in hydrogenation processes and is very effective in converting hydrocarbons into more valuable and volatile products. Finally, rhodium is also used as a coating for glasses to increase their resistance to corrosion and heat.

1966°
3727°

102.9055

-1
1
2
3
4
5
6

[Kr] 4d8 5s1

2
8
18
16
1

2.28

7.4589

Synthetic

Radioactive

Liquid

Gaseous

Electronic configuration diagram

Characteristics

Name	rhodium
Number	45
Atomic	102.9055
Symbol	Rh
Fusion	1966
Boiling	3727
Density	12.41
Period	5
Group	9

Discovery	1803 Wollaston
Abundance	0.001
Radius	1.8
Electronegativity	2.28
Ionization	7.4589
Number of isotopes	20
Electronic configuration	[Kr] 4d8 5s1
Oxidation states	-1,1,2,3,4,5,6
Electron by energy level	2,8,18,16,1

Minerals containing this element : 19

Mineral	Hardness	Density
Bowieite	7.00 / 7.00
Cherepanovite	6.00 / 6.00	9.72
Cuprorhodsite	5.00 / 5.50	6.74
Ferhodsite
Ferrorhodsite	4.50 / 4.50	5.71
Hollingworthite	6.00 / 6.50	7.91
Irarsite	6.50 / 6.50	11.00
Kashinite	7.50 / 7.50	9.10
Kingstonite	6.00 / 6.00	7.52
Konderite	5.50 / 5.50	4.73
Miassite	5.50 / 6.00
Palladodymite
Platarsite	7.50 / 7.50	8.00
Polkanovite		10.22
Rhodarsenide	4.00 / 5.00	11.27
Rhodium	3.50 / 3.50	16.51
Rhodplumsite		9.00
Xingzhongite	6.00 / 6.00	6.64
Zaccariniite	3.50 / 4.00