Palladium (Pd)
Palladium is a precious metal used in catalytic converters, electronics, and jewelry.
Properties of Palladium
- Atomic number
- 46
- Category
- Transition Metal
- Atomic mass
- 106.42 u
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d¹⁰
- Melting point
- 1828.05 K (1554.9 °C)
- Boiling point
- 3236 K (2962.85 °C)
- Density
- 12.023 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.2
- Appearance
- Silvery-white metal
- Discovered by
- William Hyde Wollaston (1803)
Facts about Palladium
- Palladium can absorb up to 900 times its own volume of hydrogen gas!
- Palladium is named after the asteroid Pallas!
- Most palladium goes into catalytic converters in cars!
- Palladium is sometimes more valuable than gold!