Platinum (Pt)
"The Noble Catalyst, a highly unreactive and precious hero who purifies harmful fumes."
A memorable persona to anchor Pt in your mind.
21.45
Grams per cm³
1768.2
Celsius (°C)
209
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
Platinum is found as the catalyst in a car�s catalytic converter.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1735
Discovered By
Antonio de Ulloa
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from the Spanish ''platina'', meaning little silver."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
195.084 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
3825°C
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f145d96s1
1st Ionization Energy
9 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"Platinum is a dense, malleable, silvery-white, precious metal."
Did You Know?
It is one of the least reactive metals and has remarkable resistance to corrosion, even at high temperatures.
The vast majority of platinum is used in catalytic converters for vehicles, which convert toxic pollutants in exhaust fumes into less harmful substances.
King Louis XV of France declared platinum the only metal fit for a king.
Unlike gold, there is no such thing as "white platinum"; platinum is naturally a silvery-white metal.