Rhō'di-ūm, n.

n. [From Gr. ῥόδον, the rose; so called from the rose-red color of its salts.] (Chem.) A metal discovered by Wollaston, in 1803, among grains of crude platinum. It is of a white color and metallic luster, is extremely hard and brittle, and has a specific gravity of about 11. It requires the strongest heat that can be produced in a wind-furnace for its fusion, and is of little use in the arts except for forming the nibs of gold pens, for which purpose its hardness renders it very valuable.