Platinum

Platinum
Platinum block | Image: Learnool

Platinum (Pt) is a chemical element of the periodic table, located in the group 10 and the period 6, and is having the atomic number 78. It is a soft, malleable, silvery-white transition metal, whose name comes from the Spanish word “platina”, which means little silver.

On periodic table

group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
period
1 1
H
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Hydrogen
2
He
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Helium
2 3
Li
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Lithium
4
Be
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Beryllium
5
B
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Boron
6
C
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Carbon
7
N
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Nitrogen
8
O
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Oxygen
9
F
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Fluorine
10
Ne
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Neon
3 11
Na
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Sodium
12
Mg
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Magnesium
13
Al
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Aluminium
14
Si
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Silicon
15
P
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Phosphorus
16
S
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Sulfur
17
Cl
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Chlorine
18
Ar
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Argon
4 19
K
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Potassium
20
Ca
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Calcium
21
Sc
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Scandium
22
Ti
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Titanium
23
V
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Vanadium
24
Cr
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Chromium
25
Mn
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Manganese
26
Fe
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Iron
27
Co
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Cobalt
28
Ni
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Nickel
29
Cu
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Copper
30
Zn
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Zinc
31
Ga
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Gallium
32
Ge
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Germanium
33
As
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Arsenic
34
Se
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Selenium
35
Br
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Bromine
36
Kr
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Krypton
5 37
Rb
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Rubidium
38
Sr
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Strontium
39
Y
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Yttrium
40
Zr
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Zirconium
41
Nb
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Niobium
42
Mo
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Molybdenum
43
Tc
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Technetium
44
Ru
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Ruthenium
45
Rh
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Rhodium
46
Pd
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Palladium
47
Ag
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Silver
48
Cd
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Cadmium
49
In
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Indium
50
Sn
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Tin
51
Sb
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Antimony
52
Te
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Tellurium
53
I
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Iodine
54
Xe
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Xenon
6 55
Cs
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Caesium
56
Ba
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Barium
72
Hf
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Hafnium
73
Ta
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Tantalum
74
W
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Tungsten
75
Re
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Rhenium
76
Os
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Osmium
77
Ir
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Iridium
78
Pt
Platinum
79
Au
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Gold
80
Hg
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Mercury
81
Tl
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Thallium
82
Pb
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Lead
83
Bi
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Bismuth
84
Po
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Polonium
85
At
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Astatine
86
Rn
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Radon
7 87
Fr
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Francium
88
Ra
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Radium
104
Rf
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Rutherfordium
105
Db
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Dubnium
106
Sg
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Seaborgium
107
Bh
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Bohrium
108
Hs
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Hassium
109
Mt
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Meitnerium
110
Ds
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Darmstadtium
111
Rg
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Roentgenium
112
Cn
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Copernicium
113
Nh
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Nihonium
114
Fl
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Flerovium
115
Mc
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Moscovium
116
Lv
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Livermorium
117
Ts
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Tennessine
118
Og
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Oganesson
57
La
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Lanthanum
58
Ce
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Cerium
59
Pr
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Praseodymium
60
Nd
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Neodymium
61
Pm
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Promethium
62
Sm
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Samarium
63
Eu
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Europium
64
Gd
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Gadolinium
65
Tb
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Terbium
66
Dy
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Dysprosium
67
Ho
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Holmium
68
Er
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Erbium
69
Tm
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Thulium
70
Yb
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Ytterbium
71
Lu
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Lutetium
89
Ac
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Actinium
90
Th
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Thorium
91
Pa
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Protactinium
92
U
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Uranium
93
Np
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Neptunium
94
Pu
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Plutonium
95
Am
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Americium
96
Cm
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Curium
97
Bk
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Berkelium
98
Cf
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Californium
99
Es
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Einsteinium
100
Fm
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Fermium
101
Md
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Mendelevium
102
No
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Nobelium
103
Lr
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Lawrencium
– d block

Platinum is a d-block element, found in the tenth column and the sixth row of the periodic table. It has the atomic number 78 and is denoted by the symbol Pt.

Element information

Platinum Element
Platinum appearance | Image: Wikipedia
Platinum Periodic Table
Platinum location on periodic table | Image: Learnool
Platinum is found in the tenth column of the periodic table, next to the iridium element.
Origin of name Spanish word “platina” (which means little silver)
Symbol Pt
Atomic number (Z) 78
Atomic mass 195.084 u
Block d-block
Group 10
Period 6
Classification Transition metal
Atomic radius 139 pm
Covalent radius 136±5 pm
Van der Waals radius 175 pm
Melting point 1768.3 ℃, 3214.9 ℉, 2041.4 K
Boiling point 3825 ℃, 6917 ℉, 4098 K
Electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d9 6s1
Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 32, 17, 1
Learn how to draw: Platinum Bohr model
Crystal structure Face-centered cubic (fcc)
Phase at r.t Solid
Density near r.t 21.45 g/cm3
Main isotopes Platinum-192, Platinum-194, Platinum-195, Platinum-196, Platinum-198
Natural occurrence Primordial
Oxidation state +2, +4
Electronegativity (Pauling scale) 2.28
Protons
Neutrons
Electrons
78
117
78
Learn how to find: Platinum protons neutrons electrons
CAS number 7440-06-4
Discovered by Antonio de Ulloa in 1735

History

Antonio de Ulloa | Image: 64 Parishes

Platinum has a long history of use by various civilizations around the world, with early evidence of its use dating back to ancient Egypt. Traces of platinum have been found in gold used in ancient Egyptian burials as early as 1200 BCE, although it is unclear if the Egyptians recognized that there was platinum in their gold. Native Americans in what is now modern-day Ecuador were also known to use platinum to create artifacts made from a white gold-platinum alloy, although it is difficult to determine precise dates and locations of these artifacts due to the way they were obtained through antiquities trade.

The first European reference to platinum was made in 1557 by Italian humanist Julius Caesar Scaliger, who described it as an unknown noble metal found between Darién and Mexico that could not be liquefied by fire or any Spanish artifice. Spanish explorers who encountered platinum generally viewed it as an impurity in gold, and it was often thrown away. It was not until 1735 when Antonio de Ulloa and Jorge Juan y Santacilia saw Native Americans mining platinum while they were traveling through Colombia and Peru for eight years that platinum was formally studied. Ulloa returned to Spain and established the first mineralogy lab, where he was the first to systematically study platinum. His description of platinum as being neither separable nor calcinable was published in 1748, after which other chemists across Europe began studying the metal.

One of the most significant early accounts of platinum was made by British metallurgist Charles Wood in 1741 when he found various samples of Colombian platinum in Jamaica and sent them to William Brownrigg for further investigation. After studying the samples, Brownrigg presented a detailed account of the metal to the Royal Society in 1750, noting that he had seen no mention of it in any previous accounts of known minerals. Brownrigg also noted platinum’s extremely high melting point and resistance to borax. Other chemists, including Andreas Sigismund Marggraf, Torbern Bergman, Jöns Jakob Berzelius, William Lewis, and Pierre Macquer, soon began studying platinum as well. Henrik Scheffer published a detailed scientific description of the metal in 1752, referring to it as “white gold” and noting that it was less pliable than gold but similarly resistant to corrosion.

Occurrence and production

Platinum is a relatively rare element, with an average abundance of just 5 parts per billion in the Earth’s crust. The majority of platinum reserves are located in the Bushveld Complex in South Africa, where approximately 70% of the world’s platinum is produced. Other significant deposits are found in Russia, North America, and Zimbabwe.

Platinum is typically extracted from its ores through a complex process that involves crushing, milling, and chemical treatment. The most common method of platinum production is through the refining of nickel and copper ores. The process involves the use of high temperatures and pressure to separate the platinum from other metals and impurities, resulting in a crude form of the metal known as “blister” or “sponge” platinum.

Once the crude platinum has been obtained, it undergoes further refining and purification to remove any remaining impurities. The purified platinum is then formed into ingots, which can be used for a variety of purposes, including jewelry, industrial applications, and investment.

Properties

Platinum is a silvery-white metal that is dense, malleable, and ductile.

Platinum has a very high melting point of 1768.3 ℃ and a boiling point of 3825 ℃, making it ideal for high-temperature applications.

Platinum is a dense metal with a density of 21.45 g/cm3, which is higher than most other common metals.

Platinum is highly resistant to corrosion, making it ideal for use in harsh chemical environments.

Platinum is a good conductor of electricity, making it useful for electrical contacts and other electronic applications.

Platinum is an effective catalyst for many chemical reactions, including the oxidation of hydrocarbons in automotive catalytic converters.

While rare, some people can develop an allergic reaction to platinum, making it important to handle the metal with care.

Applications

Jewelry

Platinum is a popular choice for high-end jewelry due to its durability, resistance to tarnish, and lustrous appearance.

Automotive

Platinum is a key component in automotive catalytic converters, which help reduce harmful emissions from vehicles.

Chemical manufacturing

Platinum is used as a catalyst in many chemical reactions, including the production of fertilizers, plastics, and pharmaceuticals.

Electronics

Platinum is used in various electronic components, including hard disk drives, LCD screens, and electrical contacts.

Medical

Platinum is used in medical applications, such as pacemakers, dental fillings, and chemotherapy drugs.

Investment

Platinum is also used as an investment, with many individuals and organizations holding platinum bullion or coins as a form of financial insurance.

Interesting facts

The name “platinum” comes from the Spanish word “platina,” which means “little silver.”

Platinum is denser than gold, with a density of 21.45 g/cm3 compared to gold’s 19.3 g/cm3.

Platinum is the most ductile metal, meaning it can be drawn into the thinnest wires without breaking.

The world’s largest platinum nugget was discovered in Russia in 1844 and weighed over 20 pounds.

Platinum is often used in the creation of laboratory equipment due to its resistance to corrosion and high melting point.

The purity of platinum is measured in parts per thousand, with “platine” referring to 950 parts per thousand pure platinum.

Platinum has been used to make coins, with the Russian government issuing platinum coins as legal tender in the early 20th century.

Platinum has been used to create prestigious awards, such as the Grammy Awards, which feature a gramophone statuette made of platinum.

Related

More elements

s block
p block
d block
f block
Barium Aluminium Bohrium Actinium
Beryllium Antimony Cadmium Americium
Caesium Argon Chromium Berkelium
Calcium Arsenic Cobalt Californium
Francium Astatine Copernicium Cerium
Helium Bismuth Copper Curium
Hydrogen Boron Darmstadtium Dysprosium
Lithium Bromine Dubnium Einsteinium
Magnesium Carbon Gold Erbium
Potassium Chlorine Hafnium Europium
Radium Flerovium Hassium Fermium
Rubidium Fluorine Iridium Gadolinium
Sodium Gallium Iron Holmium
Strontium Germanium Lawrencium Lanthanum
Indium Lutetium Mendelevium
Iodine Manganese Neodymium
Krypton Meitnerium Neptunium
Lead Mercury Nobelium
Livermorium Molybdenum Plutonium
Moscovium Nickel Praseodymium
Neon Niobium Promethium
Nihonium Osmium Protactinium
Nitrogen Palladium Samarium
Oganesson Platinum Terbium
Oxygen Rhenium Thorium
Phosphorus Rhodium Thulium
Polonium Roentgenium Uranium
Radon Ruthenium Ytterbium
Selenium Rutherfordium
Silicon Scandium
Sulfur Seaborgium
Tellurium Silver
Tennessine Tantalum
Thallium Technetium
Tin Titanium
Xenon Tungsten
Vanadium
Yttrium
Zinc
Zirconium

External links

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Learnool.com was founded by Deep Rana, who is a mechanical engineer by profession and a blogger by passion. He has a good conceptual knowledge on different educational topics and he provides the same on this website. He loves to learn something new everyday and believes that the best utilization of free time is developing a new skill.

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