Platinum
Template:Elementbox header Template:Elementbox series Template:Elementbox groupperiodblock Template:Elementbox appearance img Template:Elementbox atomicmass gpm Template:Elementbox econfig Template:Elementbox epershell Template:Elementbox section physicalprop Template:Elementbox phase Template:Elementbox density gpcm3nrt Template:Elementbox densityliq gpcm3mp Template:Elementbox meltingpoint Template:Elementbox boilingpoint Template:Elementbox heatfusion kjpmol Template:Elementbox heatvaporiz kjpmol Template:Elementbox heatcapacity jpmolkat25 Template:Elementbox vaporpressure katpa Template:Elementbox section atomicprop Template:Elementbox crystalstruct Template:Elementbox oxistates Template:Elementbox electroneg pauling Template:Elementbox ionizationenergies2 Template:Elementbox atomicradius pm Template:Elementbox atomicradiuscalc pm Template:Elementbox covalentradius pm Template:Elementbox vanderwaalsrad pm Template:Elementbox section miscellaneous Template:Elementbox magnetic Template:Elementbox eresist ohmmat20 Template:Elementbox thermalcond wpmkat300k Template:Elementbox thermalexpansion umpmkat25 Template:Elementbox speedofsound rodmpsatrt Template:Elementbox youngsmodulus gpa Template:Elementbox shearmodulus gpa Template:Elementbox bulkmodulus gpa Template:Elementbox poissonratio Template:Elementbox mohshardness Template:Elementbox vickershardness mpa Template:Elementbox brinellhardness mpa Template:Elementbox cas number Template:Elementbox isotopes begin |- ! style="text-align:right;" | 190Pt | style="text-align:right;" | 0.01% | style="text-align:right;" | 6.5×1011 y | α | style="text-align:right;" | 186Os |- ! style="text-align:right;" | 191Pt | style="text-align:center;" | syn | style="text-align:right;" | 2.96 d | ε | style="text-align:right;" | 191Ir Template:Elementbox isotopes stable |- ! style="text-align:right;" | 193Pt | style="text-align:center;" | syn | style="text-align:right;" | 50 y | ε | style="text-align:right;" | 193Ir |- ! style="text-align:right;" | 193mPt | style="text-align:center;" | syn | style="text-align:right;" | 4.33 d | IT | style="text-align:right;" | 193Pt Template:Elementbox isotopes stable Template:Elementbox isotopes stable |- ! style="text-align:right;" | 195mPt | style="text-align:center;" | syn | style="text-align:right;" | 4.02 d | IT | style="text-align:right;" | 195Pt Template:Elementbox isotopes stable |- ! style="text-align:right;" | 197Pt | style="text-align:center;" | syn | style="text-align:right;" | 19.8913 h | β- | style="text-align:right;" | 197Au |- ! style="text-align:right;" | 197mPt | style="text-align:center;" | syn | style="text-align:right;" | 1.59 h | IT | style="text-align:right;" | 197Pt Template:Elementbox isotopes stable Template:Elementbox isotopes end Template:Elementbox footer This page is about platinum the chemical element. For other uses, see Platinum (disambiguation).
Platinum (IPA: /ˈplætɪnəm/) is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. A heavy, malleable, ductile, precious, grey-white transition metal, platinum is resistant to corrosion and occurs in some nickel and copper ores along with some native deposits. Platinum is used in jewelry, laboratory equipment, electrical contacts, dentistry, and automobile emissions control devices.
Notable characteristics
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Platinum_nuggets.jpg/220px-Platinum_nuggets.jpg)
When pure, the metal appears greyish-white and firm. The metal is corrosion-resistant. The catalytic properties of the six platinum family metals are outstanding. For this catalytic property, platinum is used in catalytic converters, incorporated in automobile exhaust systems, as well as tips of spark plugs.
Platinum's wear- and tarnish-resistance characteristics are well suited for making fine jewelry. Platinum is more precious than gold. The price of platinum changes along with its availability, but it normally costs slightly less than twice the price of gold[1]. In the 18th century, platinum's rarity made King Louis XV of France declare it the only metal fit for a king[2].
Platinum possesses high resistance to chemical attack, excellent high-temperature characteristics, and stable electrical properties. All these properties have been exploited for industrial applications. Platinum does not oxidize in air at any temperature, but can be corroded by cyanides, halogens, sulfur, and caustic alkalis. This metal is insoluble in hydrochloric and nitric acid, but does dissolve in the mixture known as aqua regia (forming chloroplatinic acid). Common oxidation states of platinum include +2, and +4. The +1 and +3 oxidation states are less common, and are often stabilized by metal metal bonding in bimetallic (or polymetallic) species.
Applications
- As a catalyst in the catalytic converter, an optional (though often mandatory by law) component of the gasoline-fueled automobile exhaust system (see "Notable characteristics" in this article).
- As a catalyst in fuel cells. Reducing the amount of platinum required (and thus cost) is a major focus of fuel cell research.
- Certain platinum-containing compounds are capable of crosslinking (or alkylating) with DNA and are chemotherapeutic agents owing to this capability. For example, cisplatin, Carboplatin and oxaliplatin belong to this class of drugs.
- Platinum resistance thermometers.
- Electrodes for use in electrolysis.
- In the Clark polarographic electrode for measuring oxygen tension.
- A wide range of jewelery
- As a catalyst in the curing of silicone elastomers.
- As a catalyst in glow plugs in some model engines.
- Crucibles for high temperature melting of glass (for example) up to 1500°C,
better if alloyed with rhodium (10-40% of Rh).
- In photography, it is used for archival printmaking.
History
Naturally-occurring platinum and platinum-rich alloys have been known for a long time. Though the metal was used by pre-Columbian Native Americans, the first European reference to platinum appears in 1557 in the writings of the Italian humanist Julius Caesar Scaliger (1484-1558) as a description of a mysterious metal found in Central American mines between Darién (Panama) and Mexico ("up until now impossible to melt by any of the Spanish arts"). The word platinum comes from the Spanish word platina, meaning "little silver."
Platinum was discussed by astronomer Antonio de Ulloa and Don Jorge Juan y Santacilia (1713–1773), both appointed by King Philip V to join a geographical expedition in Peru that lasted from 1735 to 1745. Among other things, Ulloa observed the platina del pinto, the unworkable metal found with gold in New Granada (Colombia). British privateers intercepted Ulloa's ship on the return voyage. Though he was well-treated in England, and even made a member of the Royal Society he was prevented from publishing a reference to the unknown metal until 1748. Before that could happen Charles Wood independently isolated the element in 1741.
![Alchemical symbol for platinum](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Platinum-symbol.png/75px-Platinum-symbol.png)
The alchemical symbol for platinum (shown left) was made by joining the symbols of silver and gold.
Occurrence
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/PlatinumOreUSGOV.jpg/220px-PlatinumOreUSGOV.jpg)
Platinum is an extremely rare metal, occurring as only 5 ppb in the Earth's crust.
Platinum is often found chemically uncombined as native platinum and alloyed with iridium as platiniridium. The platinum arsenide, sperrylite (PtAs2), is a major source of platinum associated with nickel ores in the Sudbury Basin deposit in Ontario, Canada. The rare sulfide mineral cooperite, (Pt,Pd,Ni)S, contains platinum along with palladium and nickel. Cooperite occurs in the Merensky Reef within the Bushveld complex, Transvaal, South Africa. South Africa is the largest producer of platinum in the world.
Platinum, often accompanied by small amounts of other platinum family metals, occurs in alluvial placer deposits in the Witwatersrand of South Africa, Colombia, Ontario, the Ural Mountains, and in certain western American states.
Platinum is produced commercially as a by-product of nickel ore processing in the Sudbury deposit. The huge quantities of nickel ore processed makes up for the fact that platinum is present as only 0.5 ppm in the ore.
Precautions
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, short-term exposure to platinum salts "may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat" and long-term exposure "may cause both respiratory and skin allergies." The current OSHA standard is 0.002 milligram per cubic meter of air averaged over an 8-hour work shift. [3]
Certain platinum complexes (cis-platin) have been used in chemotherapy, as they have very good anti-tumor activity, particularly when used to combat testicular cancer,[citation needed] although they also cause cumulative, irreversible kidney damage,[citation needed] as well as deafness.[citation needed]
As platinum is a catalyst in the manufacture of the silicone rubber and gel components of several types of medical implants (breast implants, joint replacement prosthetics, artificial lumbar discs, vascular access ports),[citation needed] the possibility that platinum free radicals could enter the body and cause adverse effects has merited study. However, the FDA has reviewed the issue as related to breast implants, and did not agree with a recent study that showed possible in vivo toxicity.[4]
Rarity and colour
Platinum's rarity as a metal has caused advertisers to associate it with exclusivity and wealth. "Platinum" credit cards have greater privileges than do "gold" ones. "Platinum awards" are the second highest possible, ranking above gold, silver and bronze, but below "Diamond". For example, a musical album that has sold more than 1,000,000 copies, will be credited as "platinum." And some products, such as blenders and vehicles, with a silvery-white colour are identified as "platinum". Platinum is considered a precious metal, although its use is not as common as the use of gold or silver. The frame of the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, manufactured for her Coronation as Consort of King George VI, is made of platinum. It was the first British crown to be made of that metal.
World production
World supply of platinum is around 7 million troy ounces (199,000 kg) per year. [5][6] Platinum's cost fluctuates around USD $1100 per ounce ($35/g). [2]
References
- ^ http://www.mineralszone.com/minerals/platinum.html
- ^ http://www.mineralszone.com/minerals/platinum.html
- ^ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- ^ [1]
- ^ Johnson Matthey 2006 supply and demand charts
- ^ BBC 2002 article on supply and demand
- Los Alamos National Laboratory — Platinum
- Nuclides and Isotopes Fourteenth Edition: Chart of the Nuclides, General Electric Company, 1989
- Jefferson Lab — The Element Platinum
See also
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png)
- Kitco Platinum prices
- The Platinum Group Metals Database
- A balanced historical account of the sequence of discoveries of platinum; illustrated.
- WebElements.com — Platinum
- Platinum Metals Review E-Journal
- Platinum Guild International
- Platinum Today: Current and historical prices
- Platinum - Redefinition of Noble Metals