RHODIUM

4X more expensive then Platnium LEAD: The price of rhodium, a little-known but environmentally important precious metal, soared by $1,000, to a record $7,000 an ounce today, and some analysts expect the metal to climb higher before speculative pressures subside.The price of rhodium, a little-known but environmentally important precious metal, soared by $1,000, to a record $7,000 an ounce today, and some analysts expect the metal to climb higher before speculative pressures subside.A member of the platinum metal group, rhodium is a primary ingredient in automobile catalytic converters - cylindrical ceramic blocks, structured like honeycombs, that are chemically treated and coated with platinum, rhodium and other precious metals. They convert the harmful car exhaust gasses of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen.