Reaction of rhodium with air

Rhodium is largely immune to atmospheric attack. On heating with oxygen at 600C, rhodium metal gives rhodium (III) oxide, Rh2O3. 4Rh(s) + 3O2(g) 2Rh2O3(s) [dark grey] Usually second and third row d-block elements show similar chemistries, but in this case, iridium (immediately below rhodium in the periodic table) burns to give iridium (IV) oxide, IrO2. There are reports of RhO2, but it does not appear to be wellcharacterized.

Reaction of rhodium with water

Rhodium does not react with water under normal conditions.

Reaction of rhodium with the halogens

Metallic rhodium reacts directly with fluorine gas to form the highly corrosive rhodium(VI) fluoride, RhF6. This material, with care, can be heated to form rhodium(V) fluoride, which has the dark red tetrameric structure [RhF5]4. Rh(s) + 3F2(g) RhF6(s) [black] The trihalides rhodium(III) fluoride, IrCl3, rhodium(III) chloride, IrCl3, and rhodium(III) bromide, IrBr3, can be formed through the direct reaction of the metal with the halogen under anhydrous (dry) conditions. 2Rh(s) + 3F2(g) 2RhF3(s) [red] 2Rh(s) + 3Cl2(g) 2RhCl3(s) [red] 2Rh(s) + 3Br2(g) 2RhBr3(s) [red-brown]

Reaction of rhodium with acids

Rhodium metal is notably inert to reaction with acids, including aqua regia (a mixture of hydrochloric acid, HCl, and nitric acid, HNO3, known for its ability to dissolve gold metal).

Reaction of iridium with air

Iridium is largely immune to atmospheric attack. On heating with oxygen, iridium metal gives iridium (IV) oxide, IrO2. Ir(s) + O2(g) IrO2(s) [black] Usually second and third row d-block elements show similar chemistries, but in this case, rhodium (immediately above iridium in the periodic table) burns to give rhodium (III) oxide, Rh2O3. If Ir2O3 is formed in the above reaction, it must oxidize further to IrO2.

Reaction of iridium with water

Iridium does not react with water under normal conditions.

Reaction of iridium with the halogens

Metallic iridium reacts directly with fluorine gas to form the highly corrosive iridium(VI) fluoride, IrF6. This material, with care, can be heated to form iridium(V) fluoride, which has the yellow tetrameric structure [IrF5]4. Ir(s) + 3F2(g) IrF6(s) [yellow] The trihalides iridium(III) fluoride, IrCl3, iridium(III) chloride, IrCl3, iridium(III) bromide, IrBr3, and iridium(III) iodide, IrI3, can be formed through the direct reaction of the metal with the halogen under anhydrous (dry) conditions. In the case of fluorine, some [IrF5]4 may also form. 2Ir(s) + 3F2(g) 2IrF3(s) [black] 2Ir(s) + 3Cl2(g) 2IrCl3(s) [red] 2Ir(s) + 3Br2(g) 2IrBr3(s) [red-brown] 2Ir(s) + 3I2(g) 2IrI3(s) [dark brown]

Reaction of iridium with acids

Iridium metal is notably inert to reaction with acids, including aqua regia (a mixture of hydrochloric acid, HCl, and nitric acid, HNO3, known for its ability to dissolve gold metal).