Rhenium
From Chemistry Resource
| Rhenium
| |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Re |
| Atomic number | 75 |
| Atomic mass | 186.207 amu |
Rhenium, discovered in 1925, was named after the German homeland waterway, the Rhine River.
Distinguishing properties
Rhenium is an extremely hard, silvery-white metal and almost twice the density of lead. Its melting point, 3170°C, is among the highest of all the known elements.
Occurrence
Rhenium occurs naturally as an impurity in molybdenite (MoS2) and to a lesser extent in copper sulfide ores.
Usage
It is used in thermocouples alloys, and has numerous applications in electronic devices such as contact points of electrical switches. It can be electroplated, but its high cost limits its use to specialty items.
