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Re

Rhenium

Atomic number: 75Mass: 186.207 uCategory: Transition Metal

About Rhenium

Rhenium is a silvery-white, heavy, third-row transition metal. It was one of the last stable elements to be discovered. It has one of the highest melting points of all elements and the highest boiling point.

Properties

Period
6
Group
7
Block
D
Category
Transition Metal
Electronegativity
1.90 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy
760 kJ/mol
Melting Point
3459 K (3186°C)
Boiling Point
5869 K (5596°C)
Density
21.02 g/cm³
Oxidation States
+4, +7

Electron Configuration

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d⁵ 6s²
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁵ 6s²
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:8e⁻
Shell 3:18e⁻
Shell 4:32e⁻
Shell 5:13e⁻
Shell 6:2e⁻

Real-World Uses

Jet engine turbine blades
Catalysts for petroleum refining
Thermocouples
Electrical contacts
Mass spectrometers

Fun Fact

Rhenium has the highest boiling point of any element — a staggering 5,596°C — and it makes jet engine turbine blades possible!