September 26, 2012
Platinum, discovered in 1735 by a man named Julius Scaliger, is widely used in the world today. Julius found it in the Ural Mountains of Columbia in South America. Not only is platinum found in Russia and the western states of North America. The word platinum is derived from the Spanish word platina meaning “little metal.” Platinum is a silvery-white metal that found in its pure state. With an atomic number of 78 and an atomic weight of 195.08 amu, platinum has the third highest density. There are 78 protons and electrons and 117 neutrons in a platinum atom and it can make 6 isotopes. The metal also has a melting point of 1772°C and a boiling point of 3827°C +/- 100°C. Even though platinum is rare, sperrylite is a considerable source of the metal. It is malleable and ductile, which means it can be flattened and turned into wire. This element also has a very high density, does not oxidize in the air and only corrodes with cyanides, halogens, sulfur, and caustic alkalis. It doesn’t dissolve in hydrochloric acid or nitric acid but it does dissolve in a mixture of the two called aqua regia, also known as choloplatnic acid. When hydrogen and oxygen are in the presence of platinum, they explode. It is often used as a catalyst for cracking petroleum products and making sulfuric acid. It also acts as a catalyst when red hot platinum wire comes into contact with methyl alcohol vapors, which makes formaldehyde. Ranging from industry to simple jewelry stores, platinum has a variety of uses. Platinum can be formed into resistance wires for high temperature electric furnaces; it coats missile nose cones and jet engine fuel nozzles. Science labs use platinum for making crucibles and vessels for lab work. This metal coats a lot of objects that have to be able to withstand high temperatures for long periods of time; it must also be able to resist corrosion. Another use is to make sealed electrodes in glass. This happens when platinum has a coefficient expansion almost equal to that of soda-lime-silica glass. Platinum can be mixed with other elements to make alloys. A widely known alloy is platinum mixed with cobalt. These two metals make an alloy, causing the metal as a whole to have interesting magnetic properties. When the magnetic properties come about, they are extremely powerful and also permanent. A magnetic force, consisting of 76.7% platinum and 23.3% cobalt, has a B-H max that is almost twice that of alnico v. One of the most popular uses of platinum is in jewelry. Rings, necklaces and other jewelry made of platinum are considered to be the most precious out of all the metals. Not only is platinum used in jewelry, but in dentistry for making crowns. Cigarette lighters, hand warmers and surgical tools are also some of the many things that are made of platinum. As far as scientists know, platinum is nontoxic. Although it may be nontoxic, platinum salts can cause some serious health issues. Some health issues include cancer and DNA alterations.
