Platinum

Platinum (element #78, symbol Pt) is a dense, silvery-gray metal.  The platinum group of elements consists of metals with similar physical properties to platinum and these elements are among the rarest in the Earth’s crust.  They have high melting points, are dense or heavy and are non-reactive with other elements.  The platinum group metals (PGM) include ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), osmium (Os), iridium (Ir) and platinum.  Of these elements, only platinum and palladium are found in a pure form in nature. The others occur in nature as natural alloys with platinum and gold, for example.

Type

Element (Minerals/Ores of)

Mineral Classification

Native element

Chemical Formula

Pt

Streak

grayish white

Mohs Hardness

4-4.5

Crystal System

Isometric

Color

Dark gray, steel gray, whitish gray

Luster

Metallic

Fracture

Jagged

Description

Platinum (element #78, symbol Pt) is a dense, silvery-gray metal.  The platinum group of elements consists of metals with similar physical properties to platinum and these elements are among the rarest in the Earth’s crust.  They have high melting points, are dense or heavy and are non-reactive with other elements.  The platinum group metals (PGM) include ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), osmium (Os), iridium (Ir) and platinum.  Of these elements, only platinum and palladium are found in a pure form in nature. The others occur in nature as natural alloys with platinum and gold, for example.

Uses

Platinum is used principally as catalysts for the control of automobile and industrial plant emissions (such as in catalytic converters), as catalysts to produce acids, organic chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Platinum group metals are used in bushings for making glass fibers used in fiber-reinforced plastic and other advanced materials, in electrical contacts, capacitors, conductive and resistive films used in electronic circuits, dental alloys used for making crowns and bridges, and jewelry.