Original Title 原标题 What Is Rhodium, More Than Two Times the Price of Gold?
The most precious and expensive metal in the world is not gold but a rare and hard metal called rhodium, a name derived from the Greek ‘rhodon,’ meaning rose-colored.
世界上最珍贵和最昂贵的金属并不是黄金，而是一种稀少的坚硬金属——铑。铑的名字来源于希腊词汇“rhodon”，意思是“玫瑰色”。
The value of rhodium is far higher than the price of gold, which is currently at $2,161 per ounce.
当前黄金的价格是每盎司2161美元，铑的价值比黄金高得多。
Pure rhodium bead, 1 gram.一克纯铑
Rhodium, which sells for $4,750 per ounce, now holds the distinction of the most costly and rarest metal in the world.
铑以每盎司4750美元的价格成为世界上最昂贵和最稀少的金属。
Rhodium is found in platinum or nickel ores with other members of the platinum group metals. It was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston in one such ore and named for the rose color of one of its chlorine compounds.
铑存在于铂或镍矿石中，与其它铂族金属元素一起存在。1803年，威廉·海德·沃拉斯顿（William Hyde Wollaston）在其中一种矿石中发现了铑，并以它的一种氯化物的玫瑰色命名。
Rhodium belongs to the transition metal series and is chemically unreactive with oxygen, classifying it as a noble metal. This unique property makes it a perfect catalyst, resistant to both corrosion and oxidation.
铑属于过渡金属系列，与氧气不发生反应，属于贵金属。这种特性使得铑成为完美的催化剂，能够抗腐蚀和抗氧化。
With its exceptional hardness and a melting point of 1,964 degrees Celsius (3,567 degrees Fahrenheit), rhodium shares its position among the platinum group metals, including palladium, osmium, platinum, iridium, and ruthenium.
铑具有非凡的硬度，熔点为1964摄氏度，与钯、锇、铂、铱和钌同属铂族元素。
The element’s major use (consuming about 80 percent of world rhodium production) is as one of the catalysts in the three-way catalytic converters in automobiles.
铑的主要用途（约占世界铑产量的80%）是作为汽车的三元催化转换器里的其中一种催化剂。
It is often also used as plating for white gold and other jewelry. Jewelry and timepieces are plated with rhodium to create a gleaming, robust surface that resists scratching and tarnishing.
铑还经常被用来作白金和其它珠宝的镀层。珠宝和钟表镀上铑，能够产生闪亮、坚固的表面，防止刮擦和变色。
Gold is relatively abundant compared to rhodium
金比铑相对更丰富
In the Earth’s crust, rhodium occurs at a mere 0.000037 parts per million, while gold is relatively abundant at about 0.0013 parts per million, according to the British Royal Society of Chemistry.
根据英国皇家化学学会的资料，地壳中铑的含量为百万分之0.000037，金的含量是百万分之0.0013。
Rhodium production primarily takes place in South Africa, Canada, and Russia, often as a byproduct of refining copper and nickel ores containing up to 0.1 percent of this precious metal.
铑的生产国主要是南丰、加拿大和俄罗斯。铑通常是提炼含铑量达0.1%的铜矿石或镍矿石的副产品。
Approximately sixteen tons of rhodium are produced annually, with an estimated reserve of three thousand tons.
每年铑的产量接近16吨，估计存量为3000吨。
In a May 2023 report, Market Research Future (MRFR) estimated that the rhodium market is projected to reach $3.55 billion by 2030 at a rate of 4.39 percent.
在2023年5月的一份报告里， Market Research Future (MRFR)估计，到2030年铑市场将达到35.5亿美元，增长率为4.39%。
It notes that the requirement for rhodium used in catalytic converters for cars is rising due to various government regulations being implemented in different nations to reduce carbon emissions.
Market Research Future (MRFR)指出，由于许多国家的政府为减少碳排放而出台了各种规定，作为催化剂用在汽车转换器的铑的需求在上升。
Additionally, the industry is witnessing the development of fresh technologies such as 3D printing, additive production, and nanomaterials, creating fresh possibilities for the use of rhodium.
另外，铑产业正在见证3D打印、添加剂生产，以及纳米材料等新技术的发展，这些新技术为铑的使用创造了新的可能性。
“Since rhodium is a precious and rare metal, demand is anticipated to increase over the next few years as more people discover its many uses,” MRFR notes in its report.
“铑是珍贵又稀缺的金属，随着更多的人发现它的许多用途，预计铑的需求量在未来几年会增加。”MRFR在其报告里指出。
It warns, however, that when compared to other metals, rhodium is too expensive.
然而，MRFR警告，相比其它金属，铑太昂贵了。
“This limits the applications for which it can be used and is expected to restrain market growth,” the report concludes. “The global rhodium market is anticipated to face challenges from scarce resources and growing demand for applications that will pressure its supply.”
“昂贵的价格限制了铑本该有的应用，预计会限制它的市场增长。”报告总结道：“预计全球铑市场将面临由稀缺资源和应用需求增长带来的挑战，这将给供应带来压力。”