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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
When in this pool, the magma melted the crustal rocks around it, which contained minute amounts of water, carbon dioxide and other gases, in addition to rhenium. Rudy Molinek, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Aug. 2024 Osmium can decay radioactively from rhenium, but the two behave differently when rocks melt. Rudy Molinek, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Aug. 2024 Mongolia is an acute illustration of the geopolitical, environmental, and economic challenges facing mineral-rich nations seeking to benefit from emerging technologies, whether supplying indium for flat-screen TVs, rhenium for jet engines, or gallium for smartphones. TIME, 14 May 2024 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

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 Nov. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on rhenium

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!