Platinum

Platinum is a dense, silvery transition metal with atomic number 78. Its resistance to corrosion and strong catalytic activity make it valuable in jewelry, industry, and technology.

Catalytic converter: An exhaust-treatment device that uses catalysts to convert harmful gases into less harmful substances. Platinum helps catalyze the reactions that reduce vehicle exhaust pollutants.
Platinum catalysis: The acceleration of chemical reactions by platinum surfaces or platinum-containing compounds. It is the central industrial consequence of platinum’s ability to bind and transform reactants.
Bushveld Igneous Complex: A vast layered igneous intrusion in South Africa containing most of the world’s known platinum-group metal reserves. Its ore deposits are the dominant source of mined platinum.
Palladium: A silvery transition metal with atomic number 46 and a member of the platinum group. Palladium can replace platinum in some catalysts and is often compared with it in markets.
Platinum crucible: A laboratory vessel made from platinum for heating substances at high temperatures. Platinum’s chemical stability makes it useful for demanding laboratory heating.
Heterogeneous catalysis: Catalysis in which the catalyst and reactants occupy different phases, often a solid surface and gaseous molecules. Many platinum catalysts work by adsorbing reactants onto solid metal surfaces.
Platinum mining: The extraction of platinum and associated metals from ore deposits. Mining methods and ore grades determine the metal’s supply and environmental footprint.
Rhodium: A hard, silvery transition metal with atomic number 45, prized for corrosion resistance and catalysis. Rhodium is a close catalytic alternative, especially in vehicle exhaust treatment.
Platinum jewelry: Jewelry made primarily from platinum, a durable and corrosion-resistant precious metal. Its resistance to tarnish and wear makes platinum a valued jewelry material.
Adsorption: The accumulation of atoms, ions, or molecules on the surface of a material. Reactants often adsorb onto platinum before surface-catalyzed reactions occur.

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