PLATINUM (PT)

last update 01 oct 08

* Platinum is a member of the transition metals family:

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   PLATINUM / Pt / 78

   A shiny, silvery-white, malleable, ductile, dense metal that is
   highly resistant to corrosion; it will not oxidize in air no matter
   how highly it is heated.  Six isotopes are found in nature:

     Pt<195/78> / 35%
     Pt<194/78> / 33%
     Pt<196/78> / 25%
     Pt<198/78> /  7%
     Pt<192/78> /  1%
     Pt<190/78> /  0.01%

   All are stable except for Pt<190/78>, which has a half-life of about
   7E11 years.

     atomic weight:       195.078
     abundance:           75th
     density:             21.45 g/cc
     melting point:       1,772 C
     boiling point:       3,827 C
     valence:             1? 2 3 <4>
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Platinum is the most common of the "platinum group" of metals, which also includes ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, and iridium. Platinum is produced at a level of a few hundred tonnes a year. It is heavily used in jewelry, sometimes being alloyed in a small amount of iridium to increase hardness. It also has some industrial uses, particularly as a catalyst.