RHODIUM (RH)

last update 01 oct 08

* Rhodium is a member of the transition metals family:

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   RHODIUM / Rh / 45

   A lustrous, silvery, hard metal, part of the "platinum" group of
   precious metals.  It is unusually precious because it is rare.
   Only one isotope that occurs in nature, Rh<103/45>; it is stable.

     atomic weight:       102.90550
     abundance:           79th
     density:             12.41 g/cc
     melting point:       1,966 C
     boiling point:       3,727 C
     valence:             2 3 4 5 6
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Rhodium is only produced in a handful of tonnes a year. It is mostly used in powdered "rhodium black" form as a catalyst, primarily for catalytic converters for cars. It also has some minor optical applications.