Knowra Platinum group Platinum group The platinum group comprises six chemically related transition metals: ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum. They are scarce, corrosion-resistant, and often effective catalysts.
Platinum : A dense, malleable transition metal valued for corrosion resistance, catalytic activity, and use in jewelry and industry. It is the best-known member and a major benchmark for the group’s properties.
Heterogeneous catalysis : Catalysis in which the catalyst and reacting substances occupy different phases, often with reactions at a solid surface. Many group metals accelerate reactions at solid surfaces, where adsorption and active sites matter.
Three-way catalytic converter : A vehicle exhaust catalyst that simultaneously reduces nitrogen oxides and oxidizes carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. It is a major application for platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
Platinum-group minerals : Naturally occurring minerals that contain platinum-group elements, often alongside nickel, copper, or iron. These minerals are the geological forms from which the metals are extracted.
Critical raw material : A material considered economically important and vulnerable to supply disruption because of limited sources or substitutes. Several group metals have concentrated supply and few practical substitutes in major uses.
Palladium : A silvery transition metal that absorbs hydrogen and catalyzes many chemical reactions. Its hydrogen absorption and catalytic uses distinguish it among the group’s lighter members.
Hydrogenation : A chemical reaction that adds hydrogen to a molecule, often using a metal catalyst. Palladium and other group metals facilitate hydrogen addition in industrial and laboratory reactions.
Fuel cell : An electrochemical device that converts a fuel’s chemical energy directly into electricity. Platinum catalysts enable key electrode reactions in many hydrogen fuel cells.
Bushveld Igneous Complex : A vast layered igneous intrusion in South Africa that hosts major deposits of platinum-group metals. It is the world’s largest known source region for several group metals.
Platinum recycling : The recovery of platinum from spent products such as catalytic converters, electronics, and industrial equipment. Recycling helps offset scarce ore supplies and recover valuable metals from end-of-life devices.
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