Apart from gold and silver, the most frequently mentioned noble metal in everyday life is platinum. Because of its rarity and preciousness, platinum is highly sought after by European royalty. For example, King Louis XVI of France declared that "platinum is the only metal suitable for kings", he had a platinum bowl.

Platinum sugar bowl of King Louis XVI

As the most recognized metal among the platinum group metals, the widespread use of platinum has also revealed the mystery of platinum group metals (PGMs).

The six platinum-group metals are platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, and osmium. They have similar physical and chemical properties, and tend to occur together in the same mineral deposits.

 

Platinum

 

 

Chemical symbol: Pt

 

Atomic number (number of protons in the nucleus): 78

Melting point: 3,215.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1,768.4 degrees Celsius)

Named from Spanish "platina del Pinto", meaning "little silver of the Pinto River"

Platinum is very popular in the jewelry industry, and platinum is often used in engagement rings to express the innocence and longevity of love.

Platinum is an excellent good oxidation catalyst. One of the most popular uses for it is in catalytic converters, used to eliminate nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide emissions, or hydrocarbon emissions from unburnt fuel. The amount of platinum available in the catalytic converter can vary significantly based on the model and the manufacturer. But on average, there are between 3 to 7 grams of platinum in a standard catalytic converter.

In the glass industry, platinum crucibles are used to melt and process molten optical instruments and special-purpose glass.