Rhodium is one of the chattels that is very necessary in the car. It is a white-toned precious metal (atomic symbol Rh) that is also an element. It is one of the platinum group metals. The car you use releases toxins that are very hazardous to humans, but thanks to the catalytic converters that clean out the toxins, your car does not pollute the environment. But do you know the elements which clean the toxins out of the exhaust fumes? One of the important elements is the rhodium which works with other elements such as palladium to clean the toxins before the fumes are released to the environment. We can say in nutshell that the main use for rhodium is in catalytic converters designed to clean vehicle emissions. Rhodium often together with palladium and platinum accomplishes this by reducing nitrogen oxide in exhaust gas. Without rhodium catalysts, the air in our cities would be much worse due to vehicle exhausts.

And Rhodium is rare, obtained in very small quantities as a byproduct of platinum and nickel mining, principally in Canada and Russia. Because it is so rare in nature and so difficult to obtain, it is in great demand from sources that include jewellery and catalysts.

For a long time, the metal wasn’t widely used, but about 100 years ago, rhodium started to be used in laboratory devices that measured high temperatures. Then everything changed in the mid-1970s when catalytic converters were first introduced to reduce the pollutants in automobile exhaust emissions. That rareness helps explain why rhodium is a hot investment metal today, trading for a staggering $13,800.00

How Much Rhodium Is in Catalytic Converter?

The amount of rhodium in our cars cannot be equal. So, the answer to this very question depends on some factors, especially on the car’s make and model, and its engine. One vehicle with the same engine could have different converters for different countries.

The average quantity of rhodium in a catalytic converter is about 1-2 grams, and the average weight of a catalytic converter is about 1.2 kg or 2.2 pounds.

Rhodium has a very high cost, about $290 per gram, but the price would depend on the metal quality, but you can easily fetch this from recycling the old converter.

Can Rhodium Coming From A Used Catalytic Converter Lose Its Properties?

Rhodium is found in the honeycomb part of the converter, and you can easily recover the metal through a recycling process. Rhodium found in the catalytic converters does not lose its properties or strength and you would be safe recycling it.

Rhodium is least likely to be affected by air, water, and acids. Thus the acidic toxins produced alongside the exhaust fumes will not make the metal lose its properties.

The metal produces acetic acid through catalytic carboxylation, which is the synthesis of carbonyl compounds. Thus, it is a sturdy metal that rarely loses its properties.

The recycling company should have the latest technology systems and be energy-efficient. Moreover, it should have an effective waste system that reduces environmental pollution at the expense of the metal.
Read More: https://autoremedy365.com/how-much-rhodium-is-in-a-catalytic-converter/

Here is why it is mostly stolen by road side mechanics...

I doubt if those who steal it know this much. Maybe they put it to other uses.