Platinum

Chemical element from the group of transition metals in the periodic table. The name originates from Spanish „platina” (a diminutive of “silver”). Platinum has 36 isotopes in the mass range of 172 to 201. The following isotopes can be found in the natural isotopic composition: 190, 192, 194, 195, 196 and 198 out of which isotopes 194, 195, 196 and 198 are stable and make up the major share of the composition. It occurs in the lithosphere in the concentration of 0.001 ppm in the form of ore and as an impurity in nickel and copper ores. The element was known in America as early as in the pre-Columbian times. It was brought to Europe by the Spaniards in 1750 who thought it was just a form of silver. The main platinum components include hexachloridplatinum acid, platinum chloride and organometallic complexes derived from those compounds, which are utilized on a large scale as catalysts in many chemical reactions used industrially. Biological meaning: none. Non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. Some compounds of platinum (platinum fluoride and derivatives) are used in chemotherapy to eliminate some types of cancer. In its pure form platinum is a silvery-white metal, malleable and very ductile. One of the precious metals. Does not react with water, air, most of acids and bases. Reacts only with aqua regia, hydrogen fluoride and other so-called superacids.

Application:

• Used in jeweller’s craft to produce platinum jewellery.
• Utilized for production of measuring instrument components (e.g. as a component of second type electrodes i.a. in pH-meters and fuel cells).
• Also resistors for temperature measurement (e.g. standard 100 Ohm, so-called Pt-100) are made of platinum in view of their stability.
• Further, some types of thermocouples are made of platinum alloys.