Rhodium (Rh) – Periodic Table [Element Information & More]

rhodium element periodic table

Rhodium element (Ru) is in group 9 and period 5 of a periodic table. Rhodium is in the d-block and it is classified as a transition element on the periodic table.

There is a lot more information related to rhodium which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.

So let’s dive right into it!

Table of contents

Rhodium Element (Information Table)

The important data related to rhodium element is given in the table below.

Appearance of rhodiumSilvery white metallic appearance
Atomic number of rhodium45
Symbol of rhodiumRh
Atomic mass of rhodium102.91 u
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in rhodiumProtons: 45, Neutrons: 58, Electrons: 45
State of rhodium (at STP)Solid
Group number of rhodium in periodic table9
Period number of rhodium in periodic table5
Block of rhodium in periodic tabled-block
Category of rhodiumTransition metals
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in rhodium2, 8, 18, 16, 1
Electron configuration of rhodium[Kr] 4d8 5s1
Orbital diagram of rhodiumorbital diagram of rhodium
Electronegativity of rhodium (on pauling scale)2.28
Atomic radius of rhodium (van der Waals radius)195 picometers
Density of rhodium12.45 g/cm3
1st ionization energy of rhodium7.459 eV
Main isotope of rhodium103Rh
Melting point of rhodium2237 K or 1964 °C or 3567 °F
Boiling point of rhodium3968 K or 3695 °C or 6683 °F
Crystal structure of rhodiumFace Centered Cubic (FCC)
Discovery of rhodiumBy William Hyde Wollaston in 1804

Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).

Rhodium element in Periodic table

The Rhodium element (Rh) has the atomic number 45 and is located in group 9 and period 5. Rhodium is a metal and it is classified as a transition element.

H He
Li Be B C N O F Ne
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
Cs Ba La* Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
Fr Ra Ac** Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
*Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
**Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr

Facts about rhodium

Here are a few interesting facts about rhodium element.

  1. The name rhodium came from the Greek word “Rhodon” which means rose.
  2. Rhodium was discovered by William Hyde Wollaston in 1804.
  3. The concentration of rhodium in the earth’s crust is very less and it is 1 part per 200 million.
  4. Rhodium is obtained from the waste product of uranium fission.
  5. Around 87% of the total rhodium is used in catalytic converters.

Properties of rhodium

Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of rhodium.

Physical properties of rhodium

  • Rhodium is a solid metal that has a silvery white appearance.
  • Rhodium is resistive to wear and it has a good hardness.
  • The atomic mass of rhodium is 102.91 u and its density is 12.45 g/cm3.
  • The melting point and boiling point of rhodium is 2237 K and 3968 K respectively.
  • Rhodium has many isotopes, but the most abundant isotope is 103Ru.
  • Rhodium has a FCC crystal structure.

Chemical properties of rhodium

  • The electronic configuration of rhodium is [Kr] 4d8 5s1 and it is a transition metal as it has incomplete d-orbitals.
  • Rhodium is very less reactive to acids.
  • Rhodium is also called a noble metal as it does not react easily with oxygen.
  • Rhodium is resistive to corrosion.

Uses of rhodium

Here are some uses of the rhodium element.

  • Rhodium is used in catalytic converters (these are used in cleaning the vehicle emissions).
  • Rhodium is also added to platinum and iridium. This makes the alloy heat resistant at higher temperatures.
  • Rhodium is used as a coating metal on crucibles as well as coating on optical fibers.
  • Rhodium is used as a catalyst in preparation of nitric acid and acetic acid.

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