Rhenium

Symbol: Re
Atomic number: 75
Category: transition metals
Group: 7
Period: 6
Block: d
Atomic weight: 186.207 g/mol
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 13, 2
CAS number: 7440-15-5
Phase: solid
Density: 21.02 kg/dm³ (near room temperature)
Melting point: 3459 K (3186 °C, 5767 °F)
Boiling point: 5869 K (5596 °C, 10105 °F)
Crystal structure: hexagonal
Oxidation states: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, -1, -2, -3
Electronegativity: 1.9 (Pauling scale)
Name's origin: Rhenus (Latin)
Name's meaning: Rhine, the name of the river which flows through the country where rhenium was found: Germany
Facts:
- in 1908 a Japanese chemist Masataka Ogawa announced that he discovered the 43rd element, and named it nipponium (Np) after Japan (which is Nippon in Japanese) - however, later analysis indicated the presence of rhenium (element 75), not element 43
- is a silvery white metal with one of the highest melting points of all elements
- is probably not found free in nature
- is used in high-temperature superalloys that are used to make jet engine parts, making 70% of the worldwide production