A luxurious and useful metal Palladium A luxurious and useful metal

Discovery Palladium was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston of England. It was named after an asteroid (Pallas) found at about the same time, which was named after the Greek goddess of wisdom.

Basic Facts Atomic number: 46 Atomic mass: 106.42 Group: 10 (Platinum group) Period: 5 Most stable isotopes: Pd 100, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 110

Physical properties Palladium is a metal that is solid in its natural state. It is soft, malleable, ductile, and silvery-white in color. Melting Point: 1554.9 ºC Boiling Point: 2963 ºC Density: 12.023 g/cm^3

Chemical Properties Resists corrosion in oxygen Lightly tarnishes in a moist atmosphere containing sulfur Dissolves in sulfuric, hydrochloric, and nitric acids Absorbs hydrogen (expands in size) Is combustible as a dust

Uses Most Palladium is used in catalytic converters in the automobile industry. These are used to convert harmful gases from car exhaust into less harmful substances like nitrogen, water vapor and carbon dioxide. There is a fast growing market for Palladium in the luxury jewelry market. Also found in electronics, dentistry, medicines, and fuel cells.

Periodic table photo

Medical Application: Blood sugar test strips

Palladium Round (coin)

Palladium foil leaf

Catalytic converter

Why you will choose Palladium the next time you buy luxury jewelry Palladium is a good substitute for Platinum, being lighter and much less expensive. It is also harder than Platinum thus resisting scratching. A around the same price, Palladium is better than white gold because it is harder and very un-reactive, ensuring that you will not have to refinish your jewelry by dipping it in Rhodium each year. Even though it is much more expensive, Palladium is better than silver because it will not tarnish in air and need constant maintenance.