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75 Re Rhenium 186.2071

Rhenium

TRANSITION METAL
Bohr Model: Electrons arranged in energy shells around the nucleus.

Rhenium is a chemical element with symbol Re and atomic number 75. It is a silvery-white, heavy, third-row transition metal in group 7 of the periodic table. With an estimated average concentration of 1 part per billion (ppb), rhenium is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust.

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Quick Facts

Atomic Number 75
Period 6
Group 7
Phase Solid
Appearance silvery-grayish
About Transition Metals

Transition metals are elements with partially filled d-orbitals. They are hard, have high melting points, and often form colored compounds.

History

Discovered By Masataka Ogawa
Named By Walter Noddack

Physical Properties

Atomic Mass 186.2071
Density 21.02 g/L
Molar Heat 25.48 J/(mol·K)
Phase Transition (Melting & Boiling Points)

Rhenium melts at 3459 K and boils at 5869 K.

Atomic Properties

Electron Config [Xe] 4f14 5d5 6s2
Electronegativity 1.9
Electron Affinity 5.8273 kJ/mol
Ionization Energy 760 kJ/mol
Orbital Filling Diagram
This diagram visualizes electron configuration according to the Aufbau principle and Hund's rule. Boxes represent orbitals (s, p, d, f), while arrows indicate electrons with spin up or down. Electrons fill lower energy levels first and occupy orbitals singly before pairing.

Photograph

Image of Rhenium Source: Wikipedia

External Resources

Wikipedia PubChem Royal Society of Chemistry Periodic Videos (YouTube)

Study Guide

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus, which defines the element.

Atomic Mass

The average mass of an atom, including protons and neutrons.

Electronegativity

A measure of how strongly an atom attracts electrons in a bond.

Ionization Energy

The energy required to remove an electron from an atom.

Electron Config

The arrangement of electrons in the atom's energy shells.