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Rhodium
Rhodium (Rh) is a rare, silvery-white, hard precious metal from the platinum group, known for its exceptional reflectivity and resistance to corrosion. It has a high melting point of 1964 °C and excellent catalytic properties, especially in high-temperature and chemically reactive environments. Rhodium is typically obtained as a by-product of platinum or nickel refining.
Goodfellow’s selection of rhodium materials, which includes Rhodium Foil, Rhodium Powder, Rhodium Rod, and Rhodium Sputtering Targets, plays a pivotal role in a variety of advanced scientific and industrial applications. Rhodium is a critical metal for catalytic processes, particularly in automotive emissions control and industrial chemical reactions. It is also used in high-precision electronics, semiconductor manufacturing, and X-ray applications due to its excellent conductivity and resistance to corrosion. Researchers and professionals in fields such as material science, catalysis, and electronics rely on our premium rhodium materials to enhance innovation and efficiency in their laboratory research.
Properties
Identifiers
Isotopes
Applications
Grades
Synonyms
General Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 45 |
| Density | 12.41 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 1964 °C |
| Boiling Point | 3695 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 150 W/m·K |
| Electrical Resistivity | 43.3 nΩ·m |
| Crystal Structure | Face-Centered Cubic (FCC) |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 200–300 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 180–220 MPa |
| Young’s Modulus | 380 GPa |
| Hardness | Brinell ~110 |
| Elongation at Break | 20–30% |
| Poisson’s Ratio | 0.26 |
Chemical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Corrosion Resistance | Outstanding; highly resistant to acids and oxidation |
| Reactivity | Inert in air and moisture; dissolves in aqua regia |
| Oxidation States | +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6 (commonly +3) |
| Surface Oxide | Forms Rh₂O₃ under oxidizing conditions |
| Identifier | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Rh |
| Atomic Number | 45 |
| CAS Number | 7440-16-6 |
| UN Number | UN3089 (powder) |
| EINECS Number | 231-125-0 |
| Isotope | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rh-103 | Stable | Only naturally occurring isotope (100%) |
Scientific Applications
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Catalysis | Widely used in catalytic converters and hydrogenation processes |
| Optics | Rhodium coatings enhance reflectivity in optical systems |
| Thermocouples | Used in high-temperature thermocouples (e.g., Rh–Pt) |
| Surface Science | Used as a chemically stable substrate for microscopy |
| Sensor Technology | Applied in gas detection and high-temperature sensing systems |
Industrial Applications
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Automotive | Core component in catalytic converters for NOx reduction |
| Electroplating | Used for durable, reflective, corrosion-resistant coatings |
| Glass Manufacturing | Rhodium crucibles and stirrers used in glass fiber production |
| Electrical Contacts | Used in high-performance and high-durability switches |
| Purity | Description |
|---|---|
| 99.85% (2N85) | Industrial-grade Rhodium suitable for general-use coatings, electrical contacts, and catalytic applications where trace impurities are tolerable. |
| 99.9% (3N) | High-purity Rhodium ideal for standard research, chemical catalysis, and thin-film deposition in laboratory and production settings. |
| 99.95% (3N5) | Suitable for advanced analytical instruments, optical mirror coatings, and precise high-temperature applications requiring low contamination. |
| 99.99% (4N) | Ultra-high purity Rhodium used in semiconductor fabrication, reference standards, and sensitive catalytic and analytical processes. |
| Synonym |
|---|
| Rh |
| Rhodium metal |
| Rhodium precious metal |
| Elemental Rhodium |