Platinum (Pt)
Platinum is a precious metal rarer than gold, used in jewelry, catalytic converters, and cancer treatment drugs.
Properties of Platinum
- Atomic number
- 78
- Category
- Transition Metal
- Atomic mass
- 195.08 u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁹ 6s¹
- Melting point
- 2041.4 K (1768.25 °C)
- Boiling point
- 4098 K (3824.85 °C)
- Density
- 21.46 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.28
- Appearance
- Silvery-white metal
- Discovered by
- Antonio de Ulloa (1735)
Facts about Platinum
- Platinum is about 30 times rarer than gold!
- Platinum is used in chemotherapy drugs to fight cancer!
- The name platinum comes from the Spanish word "platina" meaning "little silver"!
- Catalytic converters in cars use platinum to clean exhaust gases!