Can you name the least reactive metal known to human beings?
A hint for you is that it is a highly malleable and ductile element and is the only material suitable for making electrodes in heart pacemakers.
Another hint, it was the first metal to be used for making coins in Russia, and its non-military use was banned during World War II as it was deemed to be a strategic metal.
Hope you would have guessed the answer by now. Yes, we are talking about PLATINUM.
Antonio de Ulloa independently discovered platinum in 1735 and by N. Wood in 1741. However, traces of Platinum have been discovered by archaeologists in the gold used in ancient Egyptian burials, with the oldest specimen unearthed at Thebes from the burial box of Queen Shapenapit II.
Platinum is one of the least reactive elements and is considered a noble metal as it is extremely resistant to corrosion, even at high temperatures. The approximate abundance of Platinum is 5 μg/ kg i.e., around 0.005 ppm, making it one of the rarest elements in the earth’s crust. Meteorites and the moon contain a higher percentage of Platinum.
95% pure Platinum is considered one of the purest precious metals, as its isolation requires complex aqueous chemical processing. Also, intensive labor and capital are required for extracting Platinum.
A platinum-iridium cylinder made in 1879, kept at the Bureau of Standards in Washington D.C., is still used officially to define the metric kilogram.
Platinum is highly malleable; 1 gram of Platinum can be stretched into a wire of more than 2,000 meters in length. Also, Platinum is very ductile and can be beaten into sheets as thin as 100 atoms.
It is one of the heaviest metals known to occur, with a six-inch cube of platinum weighing as much as an average human being. Also, it is one of the densest elements.
Platinum is commercially obtained as a byproduct of copper and nickel mining, where it settles down as anode mud during the electro-refining process.
It usually occurs in the alluvial soil of various rivers. The world’s largest deposit of Platinum is found in the Merensky Reef in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa.
So, are you excited to know more about this incredible element? We are equally excited to tell you more. So let’s begin.
Properties of Platinum
Platinum is a D block element belonging to group 10 and period 6 of the periodic table. It has atomic number 78 and is denoted by the chemical symbol Pt. It occurs as a solid at room temperature.
It is a silvery white, heavy, lustrous, inert metal. It is known to be the most ductile metal. However, it is comparatively less malleable than gold. It is a noble metal and is highly resistant to wear, corrosion, and tarnish.
There are six naturally occurring isotopes of Platinum 190Pt, 192Pt, 194Pt, 195Pt, 196Pt, and 198Pt. Amongst these, 195Pt is the key isotope. The relative atomic mass of Platinum is 195.084.
It does not react with simple acids but dissolves readily in aqua regia and slowly in hydrochloric acid. Usually, Platinum is mixed with a small amount of iridium to make it harder and stronger.
A few important properties of Platinum are listed in the table below:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical symbol | Pt |
| Atomic Weight | 195.084±0.009 |
| Atomic number | 78 |
| Density | 21.45 g/cm3 at room temperature19.77 g/cm3 at the melting point |
| Appearance | Silvery white |
| Melting Point | 2041.4 K or 1768.3 °C |
| Boiling Point | 4098 K or 3825 °C |
| Heat of Fusion | 22.17 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Vaporization | 510 kJ/mol |
| Molar Heat Capacity | 25.86 J/(mol·K) |
| Crystal Structure | Face centered cubic |
| Thermal Expansion | 8.8 µm/(m⋅K) at 25 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 71.6 W/(m⋅K) |
| Electrical Resistivity | 105 Ω⋅m (at 20 °C) |
| Magnetic Ordering | Paramagnetic |
| Electronegativity | 2.28 (Pauling Scale) |
| Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | 201.9 ×10^−6 cm 3 /mol |
| Tensile Strength | 125–240 MPa |
| Mohs hardness | 3.5 |
| Oxidation states | −3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5,+6 |
| Electronic Configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d9 6s1 |
| Ionization energy | 1st: 870 kJ/mol , 2nd: 1791 kJ/mol |
Uses of Platinum
Platinum is used for a wide range of purposes, as listed below:
Laboratory Uses
• Catalyst
Platinum was initially used as a catalyst in the 19th century to catalyze the ignition of hydrogen. Today, it is used as a catalyst in several chemical reactions, mostly in the form of Platinum black. Its use ranges from gas phase oxidation to fuel cell power generation.
Platinum is the only metal known to withstand extreme acidic conditions inside the fuel cell, where it is used to speed up the chemical reaction. However, being very expensive, it has also restricted the large-scale use of fuel cells.
It is also used as a catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. It strongly catalyzes the reaction and assists in the formation of oxygen and water.
• Hydrogenation
Platinum can catalyze the hydrogenation of most functional groups. However, the rate and selectivity of reduction depending upon reaction conditions, metal, and other catalytic modifiers.
It is used to catalyze the hydrogenation reaction of benzene to cyclohexane. PtO2 is used for the hydrogenation of vegetable oils.
• Standard
Platinum-made objects are used as a standard for the measurement of various units. A Platinum iridium alloy bar (90:10) was known as the international prototype meter from 1889 to 1960. A cylinder made of the same alloy was used as the international prototype of kilogram till 2019.
The Standard Platinum Resistance Thermometer (SPRT) has a resistance wire made of pPlatinuminum and is used as the international temperature scale of 1990 (ITS 90).
A platinized Platinum electrode is also used in the standard hydrogen electrode due to its corrosion resistance properties.
• Electrodes
Platinum is used in the cells as an electrode because it absorbs hydrogen easily. Further, it does not take part in the redox reaction during the working of the cell.
Commercial Uses
• Catalytic converter
Platinum works as a catalytic converter in the exhaust pipes of most cars, where it disarms toxic exhaust gases, preventing them from causing damage to the environment. This use is actually due to the abiPlatinumplatinum working as a great oxidization catalyst.
It captures the oxygen atoms from the environment, and carbon monoxide emitted by the vehicle and combines them to form carbon dioxide oxide, which is less harmful to the atmosphere.
It allows the complete combustion of the unburned hydrocarbons coming out of the car exhaust by converting them into carbon dioxide and water vapor.
• Below is the reaction of nitrogen oxides undergoing reduction to form elemental nitrogen and oxygen
NOx→Nx+Ox
• Carbon monoxide oxidized to form carbon dioxide
CO+O2→CO2
• Hydrocarbons are oxidized into carbon dioxide and water
CxH4x+2xO2→xCO2+2xH2O
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• Petroleum industry
Platinum is used in the petroleum industry for the process of catalytic reforming. Here, Platinum catalysts help reform the reformates, i.e., high octane blending components, of gasoline from naptha.
• Investment
Just like gold and silver, Platinum is traded in the global commodity markets as coins, bars, and ingots. Being a rare element, it is a precious metal commodity. It has the ISO currency code of XPT on its bullion.
• Jewelry
Platinum has recently gained much fame in the jewelry market owing to its ability to maintain its appearance for years without fading or tarnishing.
Moreover, being an inert metal, it is hypoallergenic and even suitable to be worn by people with sensitive skin.
You must also check out the article on why doesn’t Platinum Tarnish.
• Watchmaking
Many luxury watch brands, such as Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, and BreiPlatinumtc., use platinum to manufacture their limited edition watch series.
Medicinal Uses
• Biomedical equipment
Platinum is a biocompatible element. It is the only metallic material that is considered completely safe when implanted inside the human body. The 10% iridium platinum electrodes are used for making electrodes in the heart pacemakers.
Also, stents are placed inside with the help of platinum-made marker bands and guide wires. Nowadays, even platinum-made stents are gaining popularity in the medical community.
• Chemotherapy
Platinum-based drugs such as carboplatin, cisplatin, and oxaliplatin are also used in the treatment of cancer. These drugs have platinum, bonded with two ammonium ions and two chloride ions, at their center.
These drugs are negatively charged compounds that acquire a positive charge after entering the cancer cells, due to which chloride ions are replaced by water molecules. This allows the drug to bind to the DNA of the cell and blocks its ability to read the code, thereby blocking cell function.
Although these Platinum-based drugs are quite effective against cancer, there are several side effects associated with them, such as high systemic toxicity, lack of selectivity, drug resistance, etc., due to which their clinical use has been restricted.
Miscellaneous Uses
Due to their chemical inertness, Platinum pans and supports are used in the thermogravimetric analysis.
Platinum is used in making dental prosthetics, medical instruments, non-corrosive laboratory containers, thermocouples, electrical contacts, etc.
Platinum blended with cobalt in a 3:1 ratio is also used in making strong permanent magnets.
Platinum-based anodes are also used in pipelines, ships, and steel piers.
Related topics
Conclusion
Hence, Platinum, even after being an expensive and rare metal, is used for a variety of purposes, such as in laboratories as a catalyst and electrode, as a catalytic converter in cars, in the petroleum industry, jewelry, and watch-making industry, in the medical industry for treatment of cancer and manufacturing of various biomedical equipment.
