What is Rhenium?
What’s it got to do with molybdenum? Are there drivers for the price of rhenium that may drive it higher yet? Rhenium is a silvery-white heavy metal, and it has the distinction of being the next-to-last element “discovered” which is present on the earth in sufficient concentration to be considered a “natural element.” It is a very chemically reactive metal with multiple valances. It has in fact more oxidation (valance) states than any other known element. It is element number 75, and so it lies between tungsten (74) and osmium (76) in the periodic table of elements and, like its neighbours, it is very dense. Rhenium is produced commercially as a byproduct of a byproduct. It was originally produced in gram quantities in 1928 when its original discoverers, who had first isolated it from a platinum ore and in the mineral columbite in 1925, found that they could recover a gram of rhenium from 660 kilograms of the primary molybdenum ore, molybdenite. During World War II when it was discover
Whats it got to do with molybdenum? Are there drivers for the price of rhenium that may drive it higher yet? Rhenium is a silvery-white heavy metal, and it has the distinction of being the next-to-last element discovered which is present on the earth in sufficient concentration to be considered a natural element. It is a very chemically reactive metal with multiple valances. It has in fact more oxidation (valance) states than any other known element. It is element number 75, and so it lies between tungsten (74) and osmium (76) in the periodic table of elements and, like its neighbours, it is very dense. Rhenium is produced commercially as a byproduct of a byproduct. It was originally produced in gram quantities in 1928 when its original discoverers, who had first isolated it from a platinum ore and in the mineral columbite in 1925, found that they could recover a gram of rhenium from 660 kilograms of the primary molybdenum ore, molybdenite. During World War II when it was discovered th
Rhenium is a metallic chemical element classified among the transition elements on the periodic table. This element is extremely rare, and it does not have very many applications as a result. Consumers rarely interact with rhenium, although they may own products which contain this element. The primary sources for rhenium around the world are Chile, the United States, and Kazakhstan; pure rhenium tends to be rather expensive due to the element’s rarity. The element is found in a mineral known as columbite as well as in some ores, often in conjunction with platinum. When rhenium is isolated, it is a silvery white, extremely dense metal. Rhenium has a high melting point, which makes it especially useful in certain applications. Commercially, rhenium is usually sold in the form of a powder. The element is identified with the symbol Re on the periodic table of elements, and it has the atomic number of 75. This element was the last naturally occurring element to be discovered. In the early 2
Rhenium (symbol Re) is one of the last elements to be discovered. It is right next to tungsten on the periodic table. Rhenium is known for its high melting point, and its high density. Rhenium is scarce in the earth’s crust -0.7 parts per million. Rhenium is extracted from flue gases during the roasting of molybdenite concentrates. These concentrates are commonly found in porphyry ores of copper. Rhenium is considered a secondary byproduct of copper mining. Major sources for rhenium are Chile, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and the southwestern United States. Rhenium, upon extraction, is treated in an ion exchange system and precipitated in the form of ammonium perrhenate (APR). This APR is reduced in hydrogen to form high-purity rhenium metal powder. The powder is pressed into bars or billets and sintered at high temperature to increase density. The bars can be rolled into thin sheet, foil, or ribbon. What makes Rhenium unique?
