Pt
Platinum is a rare precious metal prized for its catalytic properties.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 195.08 u |
| Density | 21.46 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 2041.4 K |
| Boiling Point | 4098.0 K |
| Appearance | Silvery-white, lustrous metallic |
| State at Room Temp | Solid |
Chemical Properties
| Electronegativity | 2.28 (Pauling) |
| 1st Ionization Energy | 870.0 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | 205.3 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | +2, +4, +5, +6 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d9 6s1 |
| Atomic Radius | 139.0 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 136.0 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 175.0 pm |
Discovery
| Discovered By | Antonio de Ulloa, Charles Wood |
| Discovery Year | 1735 |
| Location | South America |
| Named After | Spanish 'platina del Pinto' meaning little silver of the Pinto River |
About Platinum
Platinum is a dense, malleable, highly unreactive precious metal. It is an excellent catalyst for automotive catalytic converters. It is rarer than gold and widely used in jewelry.
Uses & Applications
Catalytic converters, jewelry, laboratory equipment, chemotherapy (cisplatin), and fuel cells.
Fun Fact
All the platinum ever mined in history would fit into a room about 25 feet on each side.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 194 | 0.32967% | - | Yes |
| 195 | 0.33832% | - | Yes |
| 196 | 0.25242% | - | Yes |
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d9 6s1