A hard, silvery-white metallic chemical element with the symbol Rh and atomic number 45, highly reflective and resistant to corrosion, used in jewelry and catalytic converters.
Named from Greek 'rhodon' meaning 'rose' because of the rose-red color of its compounds. English chemist William Hyde Wollaston discovered and named the element in 1803 while working with platinum ores. The name specifically refers to the distinctive pink or rose color of rhodium salts.
Rhodium is often more expensive than gold and platinum, making it one of the most valuable precious metals, yet most people have never heard of it! The irony is that this 'rose-colored' metal is actually silver-white in its pure form - only its compounds show the rosy hues that gave it its name.
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