rhodium

rhodium is a rare, silvery-white, hard, corrosion-resistant, and highly reflective chemical element in the platinum group of the periodic table, with William Hyde Wollaston and Smithson Tennant credited with its discovery. It is often found in platinum ore and is used in various applications, including catalytic converters in automobiles, such as those produced by General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Toyota. The unique properties of rhodium make it an essential component in the production of jewelry, particularly in Tiffany & Co. and Cartier pieces, and in the manufacture of electrical contacts for NASA and European Space Agency missions. Rhodium is also used in the production of mirrors and optical instruments for NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the European Southern Observatory.

Introduction

Rhodium is a member of the platinum group of elements, which also includes platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, and ruthenium. It is a rare element, making up only about 0.0002 parts per million of the Earth's crust, and is often extracted as a byproduct of platinum mining in South Africa, Russia, and Canada. The United States Geological Survey and the International Platinum Group Metals Association provide information on the global supply and demand of rhodium. Rhodium is also used in the production of catalytic converters for Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and in the manufacture of chemical catalysts for Dow Chemical Company and BASF.

Properties

Rhodium has a number of unique properties that make it useful for various applications, including its high melting point, corrosion resistance, and reflectivity. It is also highly ductile and can be drawn into thin wires, making it useful for electrical contacts and connectors used in Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics devices. Rhodium is also highly resistant to acid and base corrosion, making it useful for chemical processing equipment used in DuPont and Monsanto facilities. The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the American Society for Testing and Materials provide information on the properties and uses of rhodium.

Occurrence

Rhodium is found in small amounts in platinum ore deposits, particularly in South Africa, Russia, and Canada. It is also found in smaller amounts in nickel ore deposits, such as those found in Australia and Indonesia. The Stillwater Mining Company and the Northam Platinum mine are two of the largest producers of rhodium. Rhodium is often extracted as a byproduct of platinum mining, and the Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum mines are among the largest producers of rhodium. The World Platinum Investment Council and the Platinum Guild International provide information on the global supply and demand of rhodium.

Applications

Rhodium has a number of important applications, including its use in catalytic converters to reduce emissions from automobiles, such as those produced by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Hyundai Motor Company. It is also used in the production of jewelry, particularly in Tiffany & Co. and Cartier pieces, and in the manufacture of electrical contacts for NASA and European Space Agency missions. Rhodium is also used in the production of mirrors and optical instruments for NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the European Southern Observatory. The Society of Automotive Engineers and the International Council on Clean Transportation provide information on the use of rhodium in catalytic converters.

History

Rhodium was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston and Smithson Tennant, who isolated it from platinum ore samples from South America. The discovery of rhodium was announced in a paper presented to the Royal Society in 1804. Rhodium was named after the Greek word for rose, due to the pink color of its salts. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to William Ramsay and Morris Travers in 1904 for their discovery of the noble gases, which includes argon, krypton, neon, and xenon. The American Chemical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry provide information on the history and discovery of rhodium.

Production

The production of rhodium is a complex process that involves the extraction of platinum ore from mines, followed by the separation of the rhodium from the other platinum group elements. The Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum mines are among the largest producers of rhodium, and the Stillwater Mining Company and the Northam Platinum mine are also significant producers. The World Platinum Investment Council and the Platinum Guild International provide information on the global supply and demand of rhodium. The International Platinum Group Metals Association and the Society of Mining Engineers provide information on the production and uses of rhodium. Category:Chemical elements