What is Rhenium?

Rhenium, the seventy-fifth element on the periodic table, is a silvery-white transition metal. It's rare, tough, and thrives in extreme heat.

Atomic Number: 75

Symbol: Re

Atomic Mass: 186.21 u

Category: Transition Metal

State at Room Temperature: Solid

Discovered By: Walter Noddack, Ida Tacke, Otto Berg (1925)

⚛️ Atomic Structure of Rhenium

Rhenium has seventy-five protons, one hundred eleven neutrons (in its most common isotope, Rhenium-187), and seventy-five electrons, with seven in its outer shell.

  • 🟢 Protons: 75
  • 🔴 Neutrons: 111 (Most common isotope, Rhenium-187)
  • 🟡 Electrons: 75

💡 Did you know? Rhenium has one of the highest melting points of all elements!

🔬 Rhenium Properties

Rhenium is dense, hard, and heat-resistant. It melts at 3186°C (5767°F), resists corrosion, and is one of the rarest elements in Earth's crust.

🧪 How Was Rhenium Discovered?

In 1925, German scientists Walter Noddack, Ida Tacke, and Otto Berg detected Rhenium in platinum ores, naming it after the Rhine River.

⚡ Uses of Rhenium

  • ✈️ Jet Engines: High-temp alloys.
  • 🔬 Catalysts: Petroleum refining.
  • 💡 Filaments: Heat-resistant wires.
  • 🔍 Tech: Thermocouples.

💡 Fun Facts About Rhenium

  • 🔥 Third-highest melting point.
  • 🏞️ Named for the Rhine.
  • 🌍 Super rare on Earth.
  • 🚀 Soars in jet turbines.

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

Rhenium is stable but flammable as powder. It's low-toxicity; handle with gloves, avoid dust inhalation, and store safely.

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