Platinum Facts on the Periodic Table of the Elements

Platinum Facts on the Periodic Table of the Elements Platinum is a transition metal that is highly valued for jewelry and alloys. Here are interesting facts about this element. Platinum Basic Facts Atomic Number: 78 Symbol: Pt Atomic Weight: 195.08 Discovery Its difficult to assign credit for the discovery. Ulloa 1735 (in South America), Wood in 1741, Julius Scaliger in 1735 (Italy) all can make claims. Platinum was used in relatively pure form by the pre-Columbian Indians. Electron Configuration: [Xe] 4f14 5d9 6s1 Word Origin: from the Spanish word platina, meaning little silver Isotopes Six stable isotopes of platinum occur in nature (190, 192, 194, 195, 196, 198). Information on three additional radioisotopes is available (191, 193, 197). Properties Platinum has a melting point of 1772 Â °C, the boiling point of 3827 /- 100 Â °C, the specific gravity of 21.45 (20 Â °C), with a valence of 1, 2, 3, or 4. Platinum is a ductile and malleable silvery-white metal. It does not oxidize in air at any temperature, although it is corroded by cyanides, halogens, sulfur, and caustic alkalis. Platinum does not dissolve in hydrochloric or nitric acid but will dissolve when the two acids are mixed to form aqua regia. Uses Platinum is used in jewelry, wire, to make crucibles and vessels for laboratory work, electrical contacts, thermocouples, for coating items that must be exposed to high temperatures for long periods of time or must resist corrosion, and in dentistry. Platinum-cobalt alloys have interesting magnetic properties. Platinum absorbs large amounts of hydrogen at room temperature, yielding it at red heat. The metal is often used as a catalyst. The platinum wire will glow red-hot in the vapor of methanol, where it acts as a catalyst, converting it to formaldehyde. Hydrogen and oxygen will explode in the presence of platinum. Sources Platinum occurs in native form, usually with small amounts of other metals belonging to the same group (osmium, iridium, ruthenium, palladium, and rhodium). Another source of the metal is sperrylite (PtAs2). Element Classification Transition Metal Platinum Physical Data Density (g/cc): 21.45 Melting Point (K): 2045 Boiling Point (K): 4100 Appearance: very heavy, soft, silvery-white metal Atomic Radius (pm): 139 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 9.10 Covalent Radius (pm): 130 Ionic Radius: 65 (4e) 80 (2e) Specific Heat (20Â °C J/g mol): 0.133 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 21.76 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): ~470 Debye Temperature (K): 230.00 Pauling Negativity Number: 2.28 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 868.1 Oxidation States: 4, 2, 0 Lattice Structure: Face-Centered Cubic Lattice Constant (Ã…): 3.920 References Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001)Crescent Chemical Company (2001)Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952)CRC Handbook of Chemistry Physics (18th Ed.)