Discovered : by W. Noddack and co-workers in 1925 Isolated in Berlin, Germany Origin : The element is named after 'Rhenus', the Latin name for the river Rhine. Description : A metal with a very high melting point, second only to tungsten. It is usually available as a grey powder and is among the rarest metals on Earth. Rhenium is used in filaments and for catalysts in the chemicals industry. Image : Based on the coat of arms of the Rhine League which regulated trade in the Middle Ages.