rhenium

noun

rhe·​ni·​um ˈrē-nē-əm 

: 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

But the rhenium that was bound to the organic carbon gets washed through rivers into the ocean, where it is incorporated into new seabed sediments. — Howard Lee, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026

The researchers collaborated with experimental physicists in Italy to test NbRe, a niobium–rhenium alloy. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026

As a result, the Earth’s crust has proportionally more rhenium than the deeper layers of the planet, such as the mantle. — Rudy Molinek, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Aug. 2024

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

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

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin Rhenus Rhine River

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rhenium

• asplenium
• delphinium
• proscenium
• ruthenium
• selenium
• vaccinium

Kids Definition

rhenium

noun

rhe·​ni·​um ˈrē-nē-əm 

: 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 

: 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