Platinum

Platinum is a dense and precious chemical element. It is represented by the symbol Pt and has the atomic number 78. This silverish-white metal belongs to the platinum group of elements. It is also found in group 10 of the periodic table. Platinum is highly valued because it is both rare and incredibly useful.

Scientists classify it as a noble metal. This means it is highly unreactive and does not corrode easily. It stays stable even when exposed to very high temperatures.

As a metal, platinum has unique physical properties. It is highly ductile, which means it can be stretched into thin wires. It is also malleable, so it can be hammered into different shapes. In fact, platinum is more ductile than gold, silver, or copper.

While it is generally unreactive, it can be attacked by certain elements. Chlorine, bromine, iodine, and sulfur can react with it. It also reacts vigorously with fluorine to create platinum tetrafluoride. Most notably, platinum will dissolve in a hot liquid called aqua regia. This liquid is a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids.

Platinum exists in several different forms through its isotopes. There are six naturally occurring isotopes of platinum. The most common one is Pt-195, which makes up 33.83% of all platinum. This specific isotope is very important for NMR spectroscopy. This is a scientific method used to study the structure of molecules. The least common natural isotope is Pt-190. It is radioactive and has a half-life of 4.83 years. Beyond the natural versions, scientists have created 38 synthetic isotopes. This brings the total number of known platinum isotopes to 44.

Finding platinum in nature is a difficult task. It is one of the rarer elements in the Earth's crust. Its average abundance is only about 5 micrograms per kilogram. Because it is so scarce, only a few hundred metric tonnes are produced each year.

Platinum is often found in nickel and copper ores. It can also be found in native deposits as pure metal. It frequently occurs in alluvial sands, which are deposits left by rivers. In these river settings, platinum is often found chemically uncombined. This means the metal atoms stay together in their pure form.

History shows that humans have interacted with platinum for a long time. Pre-Columbian South American natives used alluvial platinum to create artifacts.

European writers mentioned the metal as early as the 16th century. However, scientific understanding grew much later. In 1748, Antonio de Ulloa published a report on a new metal from Colombia.

A major discovery occurred in 1924. A geologist named Hans Merensky found a massive supply in South Africa. He discovered the Merensky Reef within the Bushveld Igneous Complex. This single layer contains about 75% of the world's known platinum reserves.

Platinum's significance is seen in its massive industrial and medical uses. It is a key component in catalytic converters for cars.

These devices help clean exhaust gases. In 2007, Gerhard Ertl won the Nobel Prize for studying this process. Platinum is also used in dentistry, jewelry, and electrical contacts. It is even used in the glass industry. Molten glass does not "wet" platinum, so the metal can manipulate the glass easily. In medicine, platinum compounds like cisplatin are used in chemotherapy. These drugs help treat certain types of cancer by targeting DNA.

Today, the global production of platinum is concentrated in a few places. In 2010, South Africa was the top producer with a 77% share. Russia followed with 13% of the production. Total world production in 2010 was 153 tonnes. Other important mining areas include the Sudbury Basin in Canada and the Ural Mountains in Russia.

Platinum is also found in slightly higher amounts on the Moon. It can also be found in meteorites. This connection to space and Earth's history makes the study of platinum very important for many different scientific fields.