rhenium [Re]

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Introduction

From the Greek Rhenius, Rhine, a major European river. Discovered in 1925 by German chemists Walter Noaddack, Ida Noddack-Tacke & Otto C Berg.

Occurrence

  • does NOT occur in nature as free metal
  • occurs in small amounts in the minerals gadolinite & molybdenite
  • occurs in earth's crust at 1-4 parts per billion

Characteristics

  • obtained either as a powder or as a silver-white hard metal
  • resembles manganese
  • tarnishes slowly in moist air
  • does not react with water under normal conditions
  • annealed rhenium is very ductile
    • can be bent, coiled & rolled
  • rhenium dust can burn or explode
  • natural rhenium is a mixture of one stable & one radioactive isotope with a long 1/2 life

Uses

More general terms

Additional terms

References

  1. Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam- Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
  2. Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003