rhenium

noun

rhe·​ni·​um ˈrē-nē-əm How to pronounce rhenium (audio)
: a rare heavy metallic element that is obtained either as a gray powder or as a silver-white hard metal, is usually extracted as a by-product of molybdenum smelting, and is used especially in catalysts and alloys see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of rhenium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Too bad rhenium is one of the rarest elements on Earth. IEEE Spectrum, 26 Dec. 2023 Each cluster consists of an octahedron made of six rhenium atoms nestled within a cube made of eight selenium atoms, with a chlorine atom on the top and bottom of the cluster. IEEE Spectrum, 6 Nov. 2023 Problem is, rhenium is one of the rarest elements out there, crimping any plans to make widespread Re6Se8Cl2 production a thing. David Meyer, Fortune Europe, 7 Nov. 2023 To study the weathering of organic carbon in rocks, the team used a tracer element called rhenium. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Oct. 2023 Similarly, rhenium was known as dvi-manganese until 1926. Mark Lorch, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2016 The United States is more than 75% import reliant on an additional 10 critical minerals: antimony, barite, bauxite, bismuth, potash, rhenium, tellurium, tin, titanium concentrate, and uranium. Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2021 Developers have long been beckoned by a lode of gold, copper, rhenium and other minerals near southwestern Alaska’s Bristol Bay. Jennifer A Dlouhy, Bloomberg.com, 29 Oct. 2020 Scientists have captured video of a pair of rhenium atoms breaking apart and bonding again in a carbon nanotube. Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rhenium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin Rhenus Rhine River

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rhenium was in 1925

Dictionary Entries Near rhenium

Cite this Entry

“Rhenium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhenium. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rhenium

noun
rhe·​ni·​um ˈrē-nē-əm How to pronounce rhenium (audio)
: a rare heavy metallic element that is obtained either as a gray powder or as a hard silver-white metal and is used especially in catalysts and alloys see element

Medical Definition

rhenium

noun
rhe·​ni·​um ˈrē-nē-əm How to pronounce rhenium (audio)
: a rare heavy metallic element that resembles manganese, is obtained either as a powder or as a silver-white hard metal, and is used in catalysts for dehydrogenation and in thermocouples
symbol Re
see Chemical Elements Table

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