PlatinumPlatinumIt’s More Than It’s More Than Just A RecordJust A Record

By Chris HowellsBy Chris Howells

What is Platinum?What is Platinum?

7878

PtPtPlatinumPlatinum

195.078195.078

A heavy, malleable, ductile, precious, grey-white transition metals, platinum is resistant to corrosion and occurs in some nickel and copper ores along with some native deposits.

The Platinum DiscoveryThe Platinum Discovery

Though the metal was used by pre-Columbian Though the metal was used by pre-Columbian Native Americans, the first European reference Native Americans, the first European reference to platinum appears in 1557 in the writings of the to platinum appears in 1557 in the writings of the Italian humanist Julius Caesar ScaligerItalian humanist Julius Caesar Scaliger (1484– (1484–1558) as a description of a mysterious metal 1558) as a description of a mysterious metal found in Central American mines between found in Central American mines between Darién (Panama) and Mexico ("up until now Darién (Panama) and Mexico ("up until now impossible to melt by any of the Spanish arts"). impossible to melt by any of the Spanish arts"). The word The word platinumplatinum comes from the Spanish comes from the Spanish word word platinaplatina, meaning "little silver." , meaning "little silver."

The ElementThe Element

Symbol: PtSymbol: Pt Atomic Number: 78Atomic Number: 78 Atomic Mass: 195.078 grams/molAtomic Mass: 195.078 grams/mol Number of Protons: 78Number of Protons: 78 Number of Neutrons: 117Number of Neutrons: 117 Number of Electrons: 78Number of Electrons: 78 Melting Point: 1768˚CMelting Point: 1768˚C Boiling Point: 3825˚CBoiling Point: 3825˚C Normal Phase: SolidNormal Phase: Solid Family: Transition MetalsFamily: Transition Metals

Uses of PlatinumUses of Platinum

GasolineGasoline Hard-Disk DrivesHard-Disk Drives Anti-Cancer DrugsAnti-Cancer Drugs Fiber-Optic CablesFiber-Optic Cables LCD DisplaysLCD Displays EyeglassesEyeglasses FertilizersFertilizers ExplosivesExplosives PaintsPaints PacemakersPacemakers Etc…Etc…

Is It Platinum Ore Not?Is It Platinum Ore Not?

Did you know Did you know approximately 8 tons of raw approximately 8 tons of raw ore must be mined to produce just one ore must be mined to produce just one pure ounce of platinum? pure ounce of platinum?

8 Tons of Ore8 Tons of Ore 1 Oz of Platinum1 Oz of Platinum→→

Platinum Fuel CellsPlatinum Fuel Cells

A fuel cell works on the principle of A fuel cell works on the principle of hydrolysis, whereby hydrogen and oxygen hydrolysis, whereby hydrogen and oxygen are combined, with the aid of a catalyst, are combined, with the aid of a catalyst, PLATINUMPLATINUM, to produce water with energy , to produce water with energy as a by-product. as a by-product.

2H2H22 + O + O22 →→ 2H 2H22OO

exothermicexothermic

Platinum Saves the Day!Platinum Saves the Day! Over one-third of all platinum Over one-third of all platinum

supplied to the international supplied to the international markets each year is used in markets each year is used in catalytic converters to catalytic converters to control harmful automobile control harmful automobile emissions.emissions.

Higher North American, Higher North American, European, and Asian European, and Asian automobile emission automobile emission standards continue to add standards continue to add pressure to auto pressure to auto manufacturers to increase manufacturers to increase the use of platinum in the use of platinum in catalytic converters and catalytic converters and devices like oxygen sensors.devices like oxygen sensors.

Platinum Mining Platinum Mining

Roughly 90% of all Roughly 90% of all platinum supplies platinum supplies come from South come from South Africa and Russia. Africa and Russia. Virtually all of the Virtually all of the platinum mined in platinum mined in South Africa is pre-South Africa is pre-sold to industrial sold to industrial users. users.

Going PlatinumGoing Platinum

Platinum is the Platinum is the greatest element. greatest element. That’s why your That’s why your favorite musical favorite musical artist strives for artist strives for the platinum the platinum record.record.