Transition Metals :

Rhodium (Rh)

Tari Netrisia Ayusari

(1310412031)

Introduction
Rhodium is considered to be a precious metal. A precious
metal is one that is rare and valued. Other precious metals
are gold, silver, and platinum. Rhodium is also classified as
a member of the platinum group of metals. The platinum
group includes five other metals that often occur together
in nature: ruthenium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and
platinum.
The name is derived from the Greek 'rhodon', meaning rose
coloured.

History
Rhodium was discovered in 1803 by William
Wollaston. He collaborated with Smithson Tennant
in a commercial venture.
His procedure involved dissolving the ore in aqua
regia and neutralizing the acid with

sodium

hydroxide (NaOH).
He then precipitated the platinum as ammonium
chloroplatinate by adding ammonium chloride
(NH4Cl). Most other metals like copper, lead,

history
Diluted nitric acid dissolved
all
but
palladium
and
rhodium,
which
were
dissolved in aqua regia, and
the rhodium was precipitated
by the addition of sodium
chloride
as
Na3[RhCl6]nH2O.
After being washed with
ethanol,
the
rose-red
precipitate was reacted with
zinc, which displaced the
rhodium
in
the
ionic
compound
and
thereby
released the rhodium as free

Rhodium in Periodic
Table

Natural Sources
One of the rarest metals on earth (abundance of 2 x
104 ppm), rhodium does not appear naturally, tending
to be found with other platinum group metals.

Rhodium occurs in small quantities in ores metals

such as platinum, palladium, nickel, silver, and gold.
Commercially, it is obtained as a byproduct of
refining nickel sulfide ores from Canada.

Physical and Chemical

Properties

Appearance

A hard, shiny, silvery

metal.

Phase

Solid

Boiling point

3695 oC

Melting point

1964 oC

Oxidaion
states

-1, +2, +3, +4

Ionic charge

Rh

Electrons per
shell

K2 L8 M18 N16 O1

Electron
configuration

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10

4s2 4p6 4d8 5s1

Atomic weight

102,1 g/mol

Atomic radius

173 pm

Density

12450 kg.m-3

Valence

3+

physical and chemical

properties
Rhodium is a relatively inactive
metal. It is not attacked by strong
acids. When heated in air, it
combines slowly with oxygen. It also
reacts with chlorine or bromine when
very hot. It does not react with
fluorine, an element that reacts with
nearly every other element.

Compound and Reaction

The known stable oxides include Rh 2O3, RhO2, RhO2.XH2O,
Na2RhO3, Sr3LiRhO6, and Sr3NaRhO6
The best known rhodium-halogen compound is the
Wilkinson's catalyst
chlorotris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(I)

Wilkinson's catalyst

Compound and Reaction

Reaction of rhodium with air

Rhodium is largely immune to atmospheric attack. On heating
with oxygen at 600C, rhodium metal gives rhodium (III)
oxide, Rh2O3.
4Rh(s) + 3O2(g) 2Rh2O3(s) [dark grey]

Reaction of rhodium with the halogens

Metallic rhodium reacts directly with fluorine gas to form the
highly corrosive rhodium(VI) fluoride, RhF6. This material, with
care, can be heated to form rhodium(V) fluoride, which has
the dark red tetrameric structure [RhF5]4.
Rh(s) + 3F2(g) RhF6(s) [black]
The trihalides rhodium(III) fluoride, IrCl3, rhodium(III) chloride,
IrCl3, and rhodium(III) bromide, IrBr3, can be formed through
the direct reaction of the metal with the halogen under
anhydrous (dry) conditions.
2Rh(s) + 3F (g) 2RhF (s) [red]

Application and uses

The

major

use

of

rhodium

is

in

catalytic

converters for cars (80%). It reduces nitrogen

oxides in exhaust gases.
Rhodium is also used as catalysts in the chemical
industry, for making nitric acid, acetic acid and
hydrogenation reactions.
It is used to coat optic fibres and optical mirrors,
and for crucibles, thermocouple elements and
headlight reflectors. It is used as an electrical

Ornamental uses
Rhodium finds use in jewelry and for decorations. It is
electroplated on white gold and platinum to give it a reflective
white surface at time of sale, after which the thin layer wears
away with use. This is known as rhodium flashing in the jewelry
business.

Rhodium-plated white gold

wedding ring

application and uses

A 78 g sample of rhodium

Cross section of a metal-core

catalytic converter

Reference
http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/45/rhodium
http://www.goodfellow.com/E/Rhodium.html
http://www.chemicool.com/elements/rhodium.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodium
http://www.chemistryexplained.com/elements/PT/Rhodium.html