Rhenium (Re)
Transition metal · d-block · period 6 · group 7
Silvery-white, very dense, very hard metal.
Rhenium (symbol Re) is chemical element number 75, a transition metal in group 7, period 6 of the periodic table. Its standard atomic weight is 186.21 and its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f14 5d5 6s2. At room temperature it is a solid. The last stable element to be discovered, named after the river Rhine.
Properties
| Atomic number | 75 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 186.21 |
| Category | Transition metal |
| Block | d-block |
| Group · Period | 7 · 6 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d5 6s2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 13, 2 |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Melting point | 3459 K |
| Boiling point | 5869 K |
| Density | 21.02 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.9 |
| Radioactive | No |
| Origin | primordial |
| Discovered | 1925 · Noddack, Tacke & Berg |
Key facts about Rhenium
- The last stable element to be discovered, named after the river Rhine.
- The third-highest melting point of all elements, after carbon and tungsten.
- A few percent of rhenium lets jet-engine turbine blades run hotter and last longer.
- One of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust.
What Rhenium is used for
Jet-engine and rocket superalloys, high-octane petrol catalysts, thermocouples, X-ray tube filaments.
Where it sits in the periodic table
Rhenium is in group 7, period 6, of the d-block. Its electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d5 6s2 means its outermost shell holds 2 electrons, which is what places it here and explains much of its chemistry. See Rhenium on the interactive table →
Rhenium — frequently asked questions
What is Rhenium used for?
Jet-engine and rocket superalloys, high-octane petrol catalysts, thermocouples, X-ray tube filaments.
Is Rhenium radioactive?
No. Rhenium has at least one stable isotope and is not radioactive.
What is the electron configuration of Rhenium?
Rhenium has the electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d5 6s2, which is 2, 8, 18, 32, 13, 2 electrons per shell.
What group and period is Rhenium in?
Rhenium is in group 7, period 6, in the d-block. Its outer shell holds 2 electrons.
Who discovered Rhenium?
Rhenium was discovered in 1925 by Noddack, Tacke & Berg.