“This metal from the beginning of the world until now has remained completely unknown, which is no doubt very surprising. Don Antonio de Ulloa, a Spanish mathematician who was in partnership with the French academicians sent from the king to Peru... is the first to mention her in the news of his travels, published in Madrid in 1748. Note that soon after the discovery of platinum, or white gold, they thought that it was not a special metal, but a mixture of two known metals. Glorious chemists considered this opinion, and their experiments destroyed it ... "
So it was said about platinum in 1790 on the pages of the "Shop of Natural History, Physics and Chemistry", published by the famous Russian educator N. I. Novikov.

Today platinum not only a precious metal, but - what is much more important - one of the important materials of the technical revolution. One of the organizers of the Soviet platinum industry, Professor Orest Evgenyevich Zvyagintsev, compared the value of platinum with the value of salt in cooking - you need a little, but without it you cannot cook dinner ...
The annual world production of platinum is less than 100 tons (in 1976 - about 90), but the most diverse areas of modern science, technology and industry cannot exist without platinum. It is indispensable in many critical units of modern machines and devices. It is one of the main catalysts of the modern chemical industry. Finally, the study of compounds of this metal is one of the main "branches" of modern chemistry of coordination (complex) compounds.

White gold

"White gold", "rotten gold", "frog gold"... Under these names, platinum appears in the literature of the 18th century. This metal has been known for a long time; its white heavy grains were found during gold mining. But they could not be processed in any way, and therefore for a long time platinum was not used.

Until the 18th century this most valuable metal, together with waste rock, was thrown into the dump, and in the Urals and Siberia, grains of native platinum were used as shot when shooting.
In Europe, platinum began to be studied from the middle of the 18th century, when the Spanish mathematician Antonio de Ulloa brought samples of this metal from gold deposits Peru.
Grains of white metal, which do not melt and do not split when struck on an anvil, he brought to Europe as a kind of funny phenomenon ... Then there were studies, there were disputes - whether platinum was a simple substance or "a mixture of two known metals - gold and iron", as he believed , for example, the famous naturalist Buffoy.
The first practical use of this metal was already in the middle of the 18th century. found counterfeiters.
At that time, platinum was valued at half the price of silver. And its density is high - about 21.5 g / cm 3, and it fuses well with gold and silver. Taking advantage of this, they began to mix platinum with gold and silver, first in jewelry, and then in coins. Having found out about this, the Spanish government announced the fight against platinum "damage". A royal decree was issued ordering the destruction of all platinum mined along with gold. In accordance with this decree, the officials of the mints in Santa Fe and Papaya (Spanish colonies in South America) solemnly, in front of numerous witnesses, periodically drowned the accumulated platinum in the Bogotá and Nauka rivers.
Only in 1778 this law was repealed, and the Spanish government, acquiring platinum at very low prices, began to mix it with the gold of the coins itself ... They adopted the experience!
It is believed that pure platinum was first obtained by the Englishman Watson in 1750. In 1752, after Schaeffer's research, it was recognized as a new element. In the 70s of the XVIII century. the first technical products from platinum (plates, wire, crucibles) were made. These products, of course, were imperfect. They were prepared by pressing sponge platinum under high heat. The Parisian jeweler Janpetit (1790) achieved high skill in the manufacture of platinum items for scientific purposes. He fused native platinum with arsenic in the presence of lime or alkali, and then burnt out the excess arsenic with strong calcination. The result was malleable metal suitable for further processing.
In the first decade of the XIX century. high-quality products from platinum were made by the English chemist and engineer Wollaston, the discoverer of rhodium and palladium. In 1808-1809. in France and England (almost simultaneously) platinum vessels were made almost a pood in weight. They were intended to produce concentrated sulfuric acid.
The appearance of such products and the discovery of the valuable properties of element No. 78 increased the demand for it, the price of platinum rose, and this, in turn, stimulated new research and searches.

Chemistry of Platinum #78

Platinum can be considered a typical element of group VIII. This heavy silver-white metal with a high melting point (1773.5 ° C), high malleability and good electrical conductivity was not without reason classified as noble. It does not corrode in most aggressive environments, it is not easy to enter into chemical reactions and with all its behavior it justifies the well-known saying of I. I. Chernyaev: "The chemistry of platinum is the chemistry of its complex compounds."
As befits an element of group VIII, platpa can exhibit several valences: 0, 2+, 3+, 4+, 5+, 6+ and 8+. But, when it comes to element No. 78 and its analogues, almost the same as valency, another characteristic is important - the coordination number. It means how many atoms (or groups of atoms), ligands, can be located around the central atom in the molecule of the complex compound. The most characteristic oxidation state of platinum in its complex compounds is 2+ and 4+; the coordination number in these cases is four or six, respectively. Complexes of bivalent platinum have a planar structure, while those of tetravalent platinum are octahedral.
In the schemes of complexes with a platinum atom in the middle, the letter A denotes ligands. Ligands can be various acidic residues (Cl -, Br -, I -, N0 2, N03 -, CN -, C 2 04 ~, CNSH -), neutral molecules of simple and complex structure (H 2 0, NH 3, C 5 H 5 N, NH 2 OH, (CH 3) 2 S, C 2 H 5 SH) and many other inorganic and organic groups. Platinum can even form complexes in which all six ligands are different.
The chemistry of platinum complex compounds is varied and complex. Let's not burden the reader with significant details. Let's just say that in this complex area of ​​knowledge, Soviet science has invariably gone and is going ahead. Characteristic in this sense is the statement of the famous American chemist Chatt.
“Perhaps it was no coincidence that the only country that devoted much of its chemical research effort in the 1920s and 30s to the development of coordination chemistry was also the first country to send a rocket to the moon.”
Here it is appropriate to recall the statement of one of the founders of the Soviet platinum industry and science - Lev Alexandrovich Chugaev: "Each precisely established fact concerning the chemistry of platinum metals will sooner or later have its practical equivalent."

Need for platinum

Over the past 20-25 years, the demand for platinum has increased several times and continues to grow. Before World War II, over 50% of platinum was used in jewelry. From alloys of platinum with gold, palladium, silver, copper, they made frames for diamonds, pearls, topaz ... The soft white color of the platinum frame enhances the play of the stone, it seems larger and more elegant than in a frame made of gold or silver. However, the most valuable technical properties of platinum made its use in jewelry irrational.
Now about 90% of the consumed platinum is used in industry and science, the share of jewelers is much less. The reason for this is a complex of technically valuable properties of element No. 78.
Acid resistance, heat resistance and stability of properties upon ignition have long made platinum indispensable in the manufacture of laboratory equipment. “Without platinum,” Justus Liebig wrote in the middle of the last century, “it would be impossible in many cases to analyze the mineral ... the composition of most minerals would remain unknown.” Platinum is used to make crucibles, cups, glasses, spoons, spatulas, spatulas, tips, filters, and electrodes. Rocks are decomposed in platinum crucibles - most often by fusing them with soda or treating them with hydrofluoric acid. Platinum glassware is used for particularly precise and responsible analytical operations...
The most important areas of application of platinum were the chemical and oil refining industries. About half of all platinum consumed is now used as catalysts for various reactions.
Platinum is the best catalyst for ammonia oxidation reaction to nitric oxide NO in one of the main processes for the production of nitric acid. The catalyst here appears in the form of a grid of platinum wire with a diameter of 0.05-0.09 mm. The rhodium additive (5-10%) was introduced into the mesh material. A ternary alloy of -93% Pt, 3% Rh and 4% Pd is also used. The addition of rhodium to platinum increases the mechanical strength and increases the service life of the weaving, while palladium slightly reduces the cost of the catalyst and slightly (by 1-2%) increases its activity. The service life of platinum nets is a year and a half. After that, the old grids are sent to the refinery for regeneration and new ones are installed. The production of nitric acid consumes significant amounts of platinum.
Platinum catalysts accelerate many other practically important reactions: hydrogenation of fats, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, olefins, aldehydes, acetylene, ketones, oxidation of S0 2 to S0 3 in sulfuric acid production. They are also used in the synthesis of vitamins and some pharmaceuticals. It is known that in 1974 about 7.5 tons of platinum was spent for the needs of the chemical industry in the USA.

Equally important are platinum catalysts in the oil refining industry. With their help, high-octane gasoline, aromatic hydrocarbons and technical hydrogen are obtained from gasoline and naphtha oil fractions at catalytic reforming units. Here, platinum is usually used in the form of a finely dispersed powder deposited on alumina, ceramics, clay, and coal. Other catalysts (aluminum, molybdenum) also work in this industry, but platinum ones have undeniable advantages: high activity and durability, high efficiency. The US oil refining industry purchased in 1974 about 4 tons of platinum.
Another major consumer of platinum has become the automotive industry, which, oddly enough, also uses the catalytic properties of this metal - for afterburning and neutralizing exhaust gases.
For these purposes, the US automobile industry purchased 7.5 tons of platinum in 1974 - almost as much as the chemical and oil refining industries combined.
The fourth and fifth largest buyers of platinum in 1974 in the US were the electrical and glass industries.
The stability of the electrical, thermoelectric and mechanical properties of platinum plus the highest corrosion and thermal resistance have made this metal indispensable for modern electrical engineering, automation and telemechanics, radio engineering, and precision instrumentation. Platinum is used to make fuel cell electrodes. Such elements are used, for example, on spaceships Apollo series.
An alloy of platinum with 5-10% rhodium is used to make spinnerets for the production of glass fiber. Optical glass is melted in platinum crucibles when it is especially important not to disturb the recipe at all.
In chemical engineering, platinum and its alloys serve as excellent corrosion-resistant materials. Equipment for the production of many highly pure substances and various fluorine-containing compounds is coated with platinum from the inside, and sometimes entirely made of it.
A very small part of platinum goes to the medical industry. Surgical instruments are made from platinum and its alloys, which, without being oxidized, are sterilized in the flame of an alcohol burner; this advantage is especially valuable when working in the field. Alloys of platinum with palladium, silver, copper, zinc, nickel are also an excellent material for dentures.
The demand of science and technology for platinum is constantly growing and is not always satisfied. Further study of the properties of platinum will further expand the scope and possibilities of this most valuable metal.
"SILVER"? The modern name of element No. 78 comes from the Spanish word plata - silver. The name "platinum" can be translated as "silver" or "silver".
STANDARD KILOGRAM. From an alloy of platinum with iridium in our country, a kilogram standard was made, which is a straight cylinder with a diameter of 39 mm and a height of 39 mm. It is stored in Leningrad, at the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Metrology named after V.I. D. I. Mendeleev. It used to be a standard and a platinum-iridium meter.
PLATINUM MINERALS. Raw platinum is a mixture of various platinum minerals. The mineral polyxene contains 80-88% Pt and 9-10% Her; cuproplatia - 65-73% Pt, 12-17% Fe and 7.7-14% Cu; nickel platinum, along with element No. 78, includes iron, copper and nickel. Natural alloys of platinum with only palladium or only with iridium are also known - there are traces of other platinoids. There are also a few minerals - compounds of platinum with sulfur, arsenic, antimony. These include sperrylite PtAs 2 , cooperite PtS, braggite (Pt, Pd, Ni)S.
THE BIGGEST. The largest platinum nuggets displayed at the exhibition of the Diamond Fund of Russia weigh 5918.4 and 7860.5 g.
PLATINUM BLACK. Platinum black is a finely dispersed powder (grain size 25-40 microns) of metallic platinum, which has a high catalytic activity. It is obtained by acting with formaldehyde or other reducing agents on a solution of complex hexachloroplatinic acid H 2 [PtCl 6 ].
FROM THE "CHEMICAL DICTIONARY", PUBLISHED IN 1812. "Professor Snyadetsky in Vilna discovered a new metal creature in platinum, which he called the Beast"...
“Fourcroix read an essay at the Institute, in which he announces that platinum contains iron, titanium, chromium, copper and a metallic being, hitherto unknown” ...
“Gold combines well with platinum, but when the amount of this latter exceeds 1/47, then gold turns white, without significantly increasing its weight and malleability. The Spanish government, fearing this composition, banned the release of platinum, because they did not know the means to prove the forgery "...
FEATURES OF PLATINUM WARE. It would seem that platinum dishes in the laboratory are suitable for all occasions, but this is not so. No matter how noble this heavy precious metal, when handling it, it should be remembered that at high temperatures platinum becomes sensitive to many substances and influences. It is impossible, for example, to heat platinum crucibles in a reducing and especially sooty flame: red-hot platinum dissolves carbon and becomes brittle because of this. Metals do not melt in platinum dishes: relatively low-melting alloys may form and precious platinum may be lost. It is also impossible to melt metal peroxides, caustic alkalis, sulfides, sulfites and thiosulfates in platinum dishes: sulfur for red-hot platinum is a certain danger, just like phosphorus, silicon, arsenic, antimony, elemental boron. But boron compounds, on the contrary, are useful for platinum dishes. If it is necessary to clean it properly, then a mixture of equal amounts of KBF 4 and H 3 BO 3 is melted in it. Usually, for cleaning, platinum dishes are boiled with concentrated hydrochloric or nitric acid.

Platinum (from Spanish Plata - silver in a diminutive form) is a noble (precious) metal from the class of native elements. The name was given in the 16th century, when the metal was first found in South America, due to similar features to silver. Denoted by the chemical formula Pt.

Shiny metallic. Hardness 5. Color silver white, steel grey. The line is silver-white, metallically shiny. Specific gravity 21.45 g/cm 3 . Cleavage is absent. Fine dissemination in dark-colored (ultrabasic and basic) igneous rocks and grains, flakes, large nuggets in placers. In 1843, a large platinum nugget weighing 9.44 kg was found in placers in the Urals.

Crystals are extremely rare. Syngony is cubic. Forged and ductile. From platinum, it is possible to draw a wire with a diameter of up to 0.015 mm and forge sheets with a thickness of 0.0025 mm.

Rare Platinum Crystals Native Platinum Small Nugget

Features. Native platinum has a permanent metallic luster, medium hardness, silver-white, steel-gray color, silver-white, metallic luster. Platinum differs from silver in a duller luster. Unlike native silver, platinum dissolves only in heated aqua regia. Platinum is similar to molybdenum, antimony and lead luster. The difference is that the first two minerals are soft, the lead sheen has perfect cleavage along the faces of the cube.

Chemical properties. Dissolves only in heated aqua regia. In terms of its low activity, it is second only to gold. Below is a good educational video about this beautiful precious metal.

Variety: Ferrous platinum(ferro-platinum) - dark color, magnetic.

Origin

Magmatic - is released during the crystallization of ultrabasic and basic magmas.

Deposits of native platinum are associated with ultrabasic (dunites, peridotites, pyroxenites) and basic (gabbro, diabase) igneous rocks and with serpentinites (serpentines) formed from them. Alluvial deposits resulting from the surface destruction of primary deposits are of especially great industrial importance.

Native platinum is found in chromites, in serpentinites (serpentines), in dunites, in peridotites, in pyroxenites, in gabbro and in diabases; in addition, in placers, as well as in compounds with nickel and gold.

satellites. In ultrabasic and basic igneous rocks: chromite, olivine, serpentine, chrysotile-asbestos, rhombic pyroxenes, magnetite. In diabases: chalcopyrite. In placers: magnetite, chromite, gold, diamond, corundum.

Application of platinum

Platinum is used in electronics, nuclear technology, rocket science, electrical (alloys with other metals), glass, and textile industries. It is used for the manufacture of chemical utensils (boilers, retorts and devices for the production of strong acids and gases), as a catalyst in the production of nitric and sulfuric acids, hydrogen peroxide, high-octane gasoline, some vitamins, for the manufacture of thermoelements, standards (the kilogram standard is made of platinum alloy and iridium); platinum salts are used in X-ray technology and in chemistry. Platinum electrodes are used in medicine to diagnose heart disease. Also used to make various jewelry, (dentures, syringes, needles and other surgical instruments).

Place of Birth

There is native platinum in chromites, in serpentenites, in dunites, peridotites, in pyroxenites, in gabbro and in diabases, in addition, in placers. Platinum is mined from ore when its content in the rock is from 0.0005% and above.

Deposits of native platinum are confined to the Ural Range (Nizhny Tagil). Grains of platinum were found in the valley of the river. Tanalyk and in the Guberlinsky mountains of the Orenburg region. The world's largest placer deposit of platinum (the Kondyor mine) is located in the Khabarovsk Territory. Considerable reserves of the precious metal in Russia are located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, near Norilsk: Oktyabrskoye, Talnakhskoye and Norilsk-1.

The largest deposits of platinum are located in South Africa (pre-Paleozoic ultramafic rocks of the Bushveld complex), Canada (Sudbury), USA (Wyoming, Nevada, California) and Colombia (Andagoda, Quibdo, Kondoto-Iro, Opogodo, Tamana). There are deposits in Alaska, New Zealand, Norway.

It is one of the chemical elements. A metal of great value. Here is a concise answer to what platinum is. Under natural conditions, Pt occurs in the form of nuggets, it can be "pure" or with impurities.

If you plunge into history, it turns out that platinum got its name thanks to the Spanish conquistadors, at that time they conquered South America. Then they mined silver and discovered a metal resembling silver, which turned out to be refractory.

No one knew how to exploit this metal - the Spaniards did not come up with anything else but to simply throw away Pt.

For a long time, the use of metal was not known. The thing is that it is a refractory element. Antoine Lavoisier was the first to melt it down in 1782. To do this, he used a device he created for supplying burning oxygen, putting there a small part of Pt, which was in charcoal. The scientists were delighted.

The Academy of Sciences in Paris could personally observe this experiment, as it was repeated. It was not easy to do this, because the scientist's apparatus had to be transported, and this required money.

Many saw it. One of the lucky ones was Count Du Nord. But in fact it was Pavel 1 (son of Catherine the Great).

Stocks

Russia also had its own platinum reserves, which were discovered in the Urals in 1819 near Yekaterinburg. Later, in 1854, deposits were found in the Nizhny Tagil district, and industrial production began. Russia has taken a leading position in the production of this metal throughout the world.

There was a great demand for Ural platinum from foreign firms. After the industry began to extract the "pure" metal, this trend only increased. Britain and France showed particular interest at first, and then Germany joined in, and the United States of America also joined.

A lot of metal was mined in the Urals, but not all of it could be exploited. That is why it was decided to create platinum coins in 1826. In addition, they began to produce other products of excellent quality. Now one coin of the 19th century can cost up to 5,000 US dollars. In Russia, they began to mint coins from the white element in 1828.

On the this moment Stocks of Pt are available in the following countries:

• Zimbabwe;
• China;
• Russia;
• United States of America.

These 5 countries contain about 90% of the world's reserves.

It is interesting! The metal was actively exploited in Ancient Egypt when creating various decorations.

Story

It is curious that the ancient Incas mined and exploited the metal. But the Old World knew nothing about Pt. In 1557, the first news about platinum appeared. But the scammers who counterfeited the money learned an interesting property of Pt - it is perfectly alloyed with gold.

This was followed by the incredible: the Spanish king in 1735 stopped the import of metal into the country. And all its reserves, by decision of the ruler, were to be drowned in the sea.

Not only counterfeiters tried to cheat, but also jewelers. They added an element to an alloy with gold, reducing the price of the item. This process was approached responsibly - it was almost impossible to detect fraud. Platinum contributed to the increase in weight, to somehow compensate for this, they added a little silver. Nevertheless, the fraud was discovered. Therefore, the import of platinum into Europe was banned for a certain period.

public properties

In the chemical table, platinum is called Pt, its autonomous number is 78. A simple chemical element is a heavy but soft metal, its atomic mass is equal to 195.084 a. e. m. The color of platinum has a silvery-white tint. This is a rare valuable item. The chemical properties of platinum are unique, it is an inert metal.

Platinum physical properties phenomenal. To melt platinum, you need to place it where the temperature will reach 1769 degrees Celsius. And for the metal to boil, you need 3800 degrees. It becomes clear that the element has low thermal conductivity.

Platinum nuggets have resemblance with silver. But only the properties of silver are lower: it is lighter, prone to damage, and dissolves in nitric acid. Masters, to create products similar to platinum, use alloys including iron, nickel, chromium.

Here are more precise specifications:

It is known that platinum does not occur absolutely without impurities. Therefore, it must be separated from other metals. For this, hydrochloric and nitric acid are useful. From the resulting metal, many products can be made:

• jewelry;
• ingots;
• anode electrodes;
• laboratory glassware;
• chemical equipment.

Pt is used in many areas. This may be the chemical and electronic industries, as well as medicine. For example, refineries operate platinum catalysts.

It is used to make laboratory glassware. Improved sensors, thermometers - all this cannot exist without platinum. And in medicine, platinum has earned a special calling. It is used in medicines aimed at combating cancer.

The main advantages of platinum:

• has plasticity and malleability;
• electrical conductivity;
• high melting point;
• surpasses gold and silver in several criteria (harder, heavier);
• does not oxidize, does not react with other substances.

A good way to invest is platinum coins. At the moment, coins from this element are of particular value and uniqueness. Their face value is 12 rubles. The real price is much higher. These are coins of 1832, they are very rare and have a lot of weight.

They also attract investment in bullion. You can buy them at the Bank of Russia. The front side reflects the marking:

• country of origin (“Russia” in an oval);
• weight;
• element name;
• weight fraction / metric sample;
• manufacturer's trademark.

Two technologies for applying the inscription are used: convex, depressed.

Platinum has won the hearts of many women and men. The great Louis-Francois Cartier, the founder of the famous Cartier company, contributed to the fact that many saw the metal. It was he who claimed that this element has no analogues and is very useful in jewelry, as it has many positive properties.

But François was not the only one who admired metal. Another of his admirers was Carl Faberge. The master created author's products. It is curious that many of the ideas of Louis Francois Cartier adopted from Faberge. These include floral arrangements and animal motifs.

jewelry

Metal is of extraordinary beauty, so do Jewelry from it is especially beneficial. They are expensive and require gentle care. Platinum is highly durable, so the fasteners made from it are practically invisible. A platinum thing can conquer a girl.

Jewelry 950 samples are made from "pure" metal, at least 95%. Care does not take much time, you only need to clean the products once a week. There are many detergents for cleaning metal. And if there are scratches, it is worth giving the product to the master so that he brings it to the new kind(polishing).

Platinum candles for cars (Pt contacts) are popular. Metal is used as an electrical conductor. High temperature resistance, corrosion resistance and durability are the main advantages of these candles.

This metal even appeared in the famous film "Platinum Blonde". It was this film that lifted him to the peak of popularity.

The unpretentious light plot was liked by many, as well as original jewelry. This film appeared in the 1930s in America. Many years have passed, but since then the popularity of metal has only increased.

The magical properties of platinum lie in its healing effects. It is believed that due to the most powerful energy, it has a positive effect on human health.

Preparations with this metal are used in medicine, since its molecules are capable of much. But not everyone can afford such drugs.

It becomes clear why Pt was able to win the love of people around the world. It's all about the specific characteristics. This metal can be used in production, or it can be used to decorate the hand of a beautiful girl. Investors also cannot resist platinum, because investing in it is the road to the future.

Platinum is perhaps the most noble of metals. Items made of pure platinum are as rare as they are expensive. This is one of the hypostases of Neptune; it is associated with mystery, contemplation, a high degree of initiation, religious mysticism, spirituality, insight.

It activates the natural talent of the medium, contributes to the acquisition of revelations and prophetic visions, enhances empathy - therefore, the wearing of this metal is especially recommended for clergymen, as well as doctors, in particular those who work with the human psyche.

In general, platinum favors those who devote their lives to high service, sacrificing vain worldly desires and ambitions to it. It helps those who have chosen the path of self-improvement through prayer and renunciation of their own ego to go through the path of spiritual transformation.

Platinum has practically no negative qualities; but she categorically does not tolerate a certain category of people and will only bring them troubles - these are, first of all, people who are unceremonious, rude, mentally hardened, allowing themselves to invade someone else's life. Especially severely platinum punishes for theft, even, as they say, “little things” - according to some sources, it even punishes quite physically, provoking the carrier of the disease and bone fractures.

With all this, the favorable energy of platinum is manifested in wisdom, tolerance and forgiveness; this is the personification of a generous and merciful higher power, repaying according to merit, but mitigating punishment.

Platinum has a positive effect on people of the water or water-air element, especially those who were born under the sign of Pisces. The platinum chain elevates the spirit and helps to find the way to Paradise, so it is best suited for those who are ministers of the Church; such decoration will also benefit people of artistic professions.

A platinum ring contributes to the achievement of truly great goals, not stopping there and not following the path of least resistance. Such a ring, so that it "works", should only be donated, and not bought on its own.

Platinum earrings make a person actually forget about his gender, setting him on the same wavelength with the universe and giving a sense of belonging to the Cosmos.

Platinum is a popular expensive metal that is widely used in jewelry. But, the value of platinum lies in the powerful energy of this metal and its impact on the human body. What is the effect of platinum jewelry on health?

Often, platinum jewelry is advised to be worn by people of mature age, women mostly prefer earrings and rings, chains with pendants.

It is believed that platinum has the power of Neptune in itself, since its capabilities are so strong that they can affect not only life and health specific person but also on the fate of entire generations. Neptune unites all the smallest energy shells of a person into a single whole and directs the received energy to internal organs. The influence of Neptune on the energy level resembles the influence of sea water.

Platinum is considered to be quite strong and at the same time good metals. It has an impact on the human body, connecting with the energy of the Cosmos. This metal helps restore peace of mind, brings success in intellectual work, and also increases the power of intuition.

The outstanding ability of platinum is the transformation of the work of all organs from an extreme state to a calm one. Since it normalizes their work and prevents the exacerbation of various inflammatory processes. When such diseases are already present, platinum softens their course. Such a precious metal brings strong and healthy sleep those who wear it.

The specificity of platinum is that its influence is more aimed not at the mind, but at the subconscious part, so to speak, at the astral body.

Platinum works quite well on the activity of the urinary organs, it also affects the excretion of chemicals and toxins from the body.

However, despite the fact that this metal copes with great mental stress and somatic ailments that manifest as a result of stress, platinum is forbidden to be worn by people with an unstable psyche, in particular with schizophrenia.

To obtain a wellness result, it is advised to wear a platinum ring, paying attention to the following aspects:

- men put on the middle finger of the left hand, and women - on the middle finger of the right. In addition, women are advised to wear after the full moon.

- it is necessary to put on a platinum ring for 6 days, alternating with three day breaks. Wearing time is not limited, but it is advised to periodically remove the ring and clean it, thus allowing you to rest for a couple of weeks.

It also matters on which finger the platinum is worn:

- on the nameless - contributes to the improvement of extrasensory abilities, and normalizes work of cardio-vascular system;

- on the index - affects spiritual development and insight;

- on the middle finger - increases the overall immunity of the body, affects the extension of life;

- it is forbidden to wear platinum on the little fingers and thumbs, even on a short time. This can cause a sharp drop in energy and sudden illnesses.

Platinum is a heavy, refractory precious metal silvery - white color, density 21.45 g/cm3, melting point 1773.5 °C, boiling point - 4410 °C. Harder than gold and silver. Indicated by the symbol Pt. The name comes from the Spanish word plata - "silver"; platina is a diminutive form, literally "little silver" or "silver".

Platinum can be easily processed by pressure (forging, rolling, drawing). It is characterized by high chemical resistance: it dissolves only in hot aqua regia, potassium cyanide and molten alkalis. Separately, none of the acids affects this metal. Platinum does not oxidize in air, even with strong incandescence, and when cooled, it retains its natural color.

Platinum is one of the rarest elements, its average concentration in earth's crust 5 10 -7% by weight. It occurs in native form, in the form of alloys and compounds. Until the 18th century, platinum was unknown in Europe. In 1748, the Spanish mathematician and navigator A. de Ulloa was the first to bring samples of native platinum found in Peru to the European continent. The Italian chemist Gilius Scaliger discovered in 1735 that platinum is indecomposable and thus proved that it is an independent chemical element. For the first time, platinum was obtained in pure form from ores by the English chemist W. Wollaston in 1803.

PROPERTIES OF PLATINUM

Physical properties of platinum. It crystallizes into face-centered cubic lattices. When salt solutions are exposed to reducing agents, the metal can be obtained in the form of “niello” with high dispersion.

Platinum is able to absorb certain gases on the surface, especially hydrogen and oxygen. The tendency to absorption increases significantly for a metal that is in a finely dispersed and colloidal state. Platinum black strongly absorbs oxygen: 100 volumes of oxygen per volume of platinum black.

Platinum characteristic:
- color grayish-white, shiny;
is the atomic radius, nm 0.138;
— crystal lattice parameters at 20 °C, nm a = 0.392;
— density at 20 °С, kg/dm3 21.45;
— melting point, °С 1773.5;
— boiling point, °С 4410;
—specific heat capacity, J/(mol/K) 25.9;
— thermal conductivity at 25 °C, W/(m K) 74.1;
— electrical resistivity at 0 °С, μΩ cm 9.85;
- Brinell hardness, MPa 390 - 420;
— modulus of elasticity, GPa 173.

Chemical properties of platinum. Fully reacts only with hot aqua regia:
3Pt + 4HNO3 + 18HCl = 3H2 + 4NO + 8H2O.
Its dissolution in sulfuric acid heated to a certain temperature and in bromine proceeds extremely slowly.

When heated, it reacts with alkalis and sodium peroxide, halogens (especially in the presence of alkali metal halides):
Pt + 2Cl2 + 2NaCl = Na2.

When heated, platinum reacts with oxygen to form volatile oxides. The following platinum oxides have been isolated: black PtO, brown PtO2, reddish brown PtO3, Pt2O3, and Pt3O4.

Platinum metal does not have a toxic effect on the human body, however, the impurities contained in platinum black (primarily tellurium) are poisonous and, if they enter the gastrointestinal tract, they occur: necrosis of the gastrointestinal mucosa, granular degeneration of hepatocytes, swelling of the epithelium of the convoluted tubules kidneys, as well as “general intoxication”.

Healing properties platinum. Metal nanoparticles are able to freely penetrate directly into the cells of the body and have a positive effect on vital processes. The main function of platinum is considered to be the destruction of free radicals, thus slowing down the process premature aging. Platinum is also found in some drugs used to treat cancer.

The magical properties of platinum. By their own magical properties it is a light and pure metal, which does not carry any evil in itself, does not store, unlike gold, a negative memory. Platinum has a clear connection with the cosmos. The mission of platinum is to bring people goodness and wisdom, enlightenment of the soul and enlightenment of the mind. A product made of platinum should be made a talisman for medical staff, as well as people of those professions where sensitivity to others is central. Jewelery made of rare metal can increase a hundredfold everything positive that is in a person, and neutralize the negative. They will sharpen intuition, show their owner the right path and protect against negative external influences that destroy his energy shell.

HISTORY OF PLATINUM IN RUSSIA

In Russia, platinum was first found in the Urals, in the Verkh-Isetsky district, in 1819. When washing gold-bearing rocks, white shiny grains were noticed in gold, which did not dissolve even in the strongest acids.

In 1823 V.V. Lyubarsky, Berg-assayer of the laboratory of the Petersburg Mining Corps, examined these grains and established that the mysterious "Siberian metal belongs to a special kind of raw platinum containing a significant amount of iridium and osmium."

In 1824, pure platinum placers were discovered in the Urals. These deposits were exceptionally rich and immediately brought Russia to the first place in the world in the extraction of platinum.

In 1826, an outstanding engineer of his time, P.G. Sobolevsky together with V.V. Lyubarsky developed a simple and reliable method for obtaining malleable platinum.

On March 21, 1827, in the conference hall of the St. Petersburg Mining Cadet Corps, at a crowded solemn meeting of the Scientific Committee for the Mining and Salt Part, the first products made from Russian platinum made by the new method were shown - wire, bowls, crucibles, medals, an ingot weighing 6 pounds.

Since 1828, platinum coins of 3, 6, and 12 ruble denominations began to be issued in Russia.

In 1843, 3500 kg of platinum was already mined. This affected the price, platinum became cheaper.

In 1845, by special decree, due to the fear of counterfeiting and importation of platinum coins from abroad, all platinum coins were withdrawn from circulation within six months.

In 1867, a royal decree abolished the state monopoly on platinum and permitted its duty-free export abroad. Taking advantage of the favorable market conditions, England bought up all the reserves of this metal - more than 16 tons.

Before the First World War, platinum production in Russia amounted to 90...95% of the world production.

In May 1918, the Institute for the Study of Platinum was established, which later merged into the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the USSR Academy of Sciences, now named after Academician N.S. Kurnakov.

Platinum mining

Pure platinum is very rare in nature. The main form of its presence in the ore is its own minerals, of which about 90 are known. The polyxene mineral contains 80 ... 88% Pt and 9 ... 10% Fe; cuproplatinum – 65…73% Pt, 12…17% Fe and 7.7…14% Cu; Nickel platinum also includes iron, copper and nickel. Known natural alloys of platinum only with palladium or only with iridium. There are also a few minerals - compounds of platinum with sulfur, arsenic, antimony.

Industrial use is technically possible and economically feasible if the ores contain platinum metals:
- in primary deposits proper from 2 - 5 g / t to units of kg / t;
- in indigenous complex - from tenths to hundreds (occasionally thousands) g / t;
— in alluvial deposits — from tens of mg/m3 to hundreds of g/m3.
Significant accumulations of ore in the form of deposits are very rare.

Ore is mined by open and underground methods. The majority of alluvial deposits and part of primary deposits are developed by the open method. The underground mining method is the main one in the development of primary deposits; sometimes it is used to mine rich buried placers.

After wet enrichment of the ore, a "raw" concentrate is obtained - a concentrate with 70 - 90% of metal minerals. This concentrate is sent for refining. Enrichment of complex sulfide ores is carried out by flotation followed by multi-operational pyrometallurgical and electrochemical processing.

The main part of platinum deposits (more than 90%) lies in the bowels of five countries. These include South Africa, USA, Russia, Zimbabwe, China.

In 2008, 200 tons of platinum were mined in the world. The leaders in production were: South Africa - 153.0 tons, Russia - 25.0 tons, Canada - 7.2 tons, Zimbabwe - 5.6 tons, USA - 3.7 tons, Colombia - 1.7 tons.

The leader in platinum mining in Russia is MMC Norilsk Nickel. The largest platinum nuggets displayed at the exhibition of the USSR Diamond Fund weigh 5918.4 and 7860.5 grams.

The explored world reserves of platinum group metals are about 80,000 tons and are distributed mainly between South Africa (87.5%), Russia (8.3%) and the USA (2.5%).

Platinum production

From the mines, raw platinum goes to the refinery. Here it is subjected to prolonged heating in porcelain cauldrons with aqua regia. As a result, almost all platinum and palladium, partly rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and the bulk of base metals go into solution.

Platinum in solution is in the form of two complexes:
H2 - most and
(NO)2.
By adding HCl to the solution, the (NO)2 complex is destroyed so that all platinum is converted into the H2 complex.

Further, the iridium, palladium, rhodium present in the solution is converted into compounds that are not precipitated by ammonium chloride, and then the solution is “adjusted” by heating it with acids (sulfuric or oxalic) or (according to the Chernyaev method) with a sugar solution.

Now you can enter ammonia and precipitate platinum in the form of ammonium chloroplatinate. A solution of ammonium chloride is administered in the cold. In this case, the main part of platinum in the form of small bright yellow crystals (NH4)2 precipitates. The precipitate is further cleaned with a solution of ammonia and dried. The dry residue is placed in an oven. After several hours of calcination at 800–1000°C, spongy platinum is obtained in the form of a sintered steel-gray powder.

The resulting sponge is crushed and washed again with hydrochloric acid and water. Then it is melted in an oxy-hydrogen flame or in a high-frequency furnace. This is how platinum bars are obtained.

When platinum is mined from sulfide copper-nickel ores, in which its content does not exceed a few grams per ton of ore, the source of platinum and its analogues is the sludge of copper and nickel electrolysis shops. Sludge is enriched by roasting, secondary electrolysis, and other methods. In the resulting concentrates, the content of platinum and its eternal companions - platinoids - reaches 60%, and they can be extracted from concentrates in the same way as from raw platinum.

APPLICATION OF PLATINUM

Over the past 20...25 years, the demand for platinum has increased several times and continues to grow. Before World War II, over 50% of platinum was used in jewelry. Now about 90% of the consumed platinum is used in industry and science. The use of platinum in medicine is also growing.

Acid-resistance, heat-resistance and constancy of properties upon ignition have made platinum absolutely indispensable in the production of laboratory equipment. From platinum they make: crucibles, cups, glasses, spoons, spatulas, spatulas, tips, filters, electrodes. Platinum glassware is used for particularly precise and responsible analytical operations.

The use of platinum in technology

The most important areas of application of platinum were the chemical and oil refining industries. About half of all platinum consumed is now used as catalysts for various reactions.

Platinum is the best catalyst for the oxidation of ammonia to nitric oxide NO in one of the main processes for the production of nitric acid.

Platinum catalysts are used in the synthesis of vitamins and some pharmaceuticals.

Platinum catalysts accelerate many other practically important reactions: hydrogenation of fats, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, olefins, aldehydes, acetylene, ketones, oxidation of SO2 to SO3 in sulfuric acid production.

Using platinum catalysts, catalytic reforming units produce high-octane gasoline, aromatic hydrocarbons and commercial hydrogen from gasoline and naphtha oil fractions.

The automotive industry uses the catalytic properties of this metal - for afterburning and neutralization of exhaust gases.

Platinum is indispensable for modern electrical engineering, automation and telemechanics, radio engineering and precision instrumentation. It is used to make fuel cell electrodes.

An alloy of platinum and rhodium is used to make spinnerets for the production of glass fiber.

Platinum and its alloys serve as an excellent corrosion-resistant material in chemical engineering. Equipment for the production of many highly pure substances and various fluorine-containing compounds is coated with platinum from the inside, and sometimes entirely made of it.

Platinum and its alloys are also used to make:
— special mirrors for laser technology;
— heating elements of resistance furnaces;
- anode rods for corrosion protection of submarine hulls;
— insoluble anodes in electroplating;
— galvanic coatings;
- permanent magnets with high coercive force and residual magnetization (platinum alloy - cobalt PlK-78).
- electrodes for the production of perchlorates, perborates, percarbonates, peroxodisulfuric acid (in fact, the use of platinum determines the entire world production of hydrogen peroxide).

The use of platinum in medicine

A small part of platinum goes to the medical industry. Surgical instruments are made from platinum and its alloys, which, without oxidizing, are sterilized in the flame of an alcohol burner. Alloys of platinum with palladium, silver, copper, zinc, nickel serve as an excellent material for dentures.

The inertness of platinum to any compounds, its electrical conductivity and non-allergenicity make it possible to actively use it in biomedicine as a component of electrical stimulators, catheters and other medical equipment.

Certain platinum complexes are used in chemotherapy and show good antitumor activity for a small amount tumors.

The use of platinum in jewelry

Every year the world jewelry industry consumes about 50 tons of platinum. Most platinum jewelry items in the trade contain 95% pure platinum. It has a minimum of impurities, so it is so pure that it does not fade, does not change color and retains its shine for many years.

The brilliant luster of platinum best reflects the true brilliance of diamonds, is the perfect setting for gemstones, and pairs well with natural yellow tones of gold. Due to its purity, it does not irritate the skin, since, unlike some other metals, it does not contain allergenic impurities.

The most important feature of platinum is durability. Silver and gold jewelry can wear out and have to be sent in for repairs to replace the worn part with new metal. Products made of platinum do not wear out, they are practically timeless.

INVESTING IN PLATINUM

The rarity of platinum and the high demand for it make this metal an attractive investment. Investing in platinum is a powerful financial instrument that, if used skillfully, can significantly increase your capital. This is an expensive status metal, which is widely used in industry. It is the growing demand for platinum that is the main reason for the steady growth in its prices.

Platinum is a commodity: it is traded on the London Metal Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. In addition to platinum with immediate delivery, there are futures contracts. Prices are in troy ounces.

Platinum in terms of investment is a definite alternative to savings in a particular currency. In Russia, investment in precious metals, including platinum, is offered to its clients by a number of banks - Sberbank, NOMOS-Bank, SMP Bank, etc. It is possible to make transactions with physical ingots and using depersonalized metal accounts. In order to carry out such operations for their clients, banks under Russian law require a special license.

Graph of platinum price changes during 2013. The price of platinum in rubles per gram is calculated daily by the Central Bank of Russia.

Opening of depersonalized metal accounts (OMS).

OMS can be opened both by depositing physical metal (ingots) into this account, and by purchasing depersonalized metal from a bank for cash rubles or by debiting funds from a current account or a deposit account. Based on the period of functioning of the CHI, there are current and deposit accounts.

CHI on demand (current). Income is formed based on the growth of the market value of the precious metal in the account. The depositor can both withdraw funds and replenish the account. With this option, he has the opportunity to maneuver and manage his income, but this requires certain analytical skills.

OMS urgent (deposit). The term of savings savings on deposit MHI is fixed, it is negotiated when opening an account and varies from bank to bank. Income is formed from interest, which is charged in grams of the precious metal and the dynamics of quotations precious metals in world markets during this period. It may turn out that during the expiration of the contract, market prices will change in an unfavorable direction, and this may bring you losses.

Banks collect commission fees from customers for certain operations on the account, namely:
— for crediting the precious metal to the account upon the physical delivery of ingots;
— for the issuance of precious metal from an unallocated metal account in physical form;
- income received from changes in precious metal quotes is subject to personal income tax at a rate of 13%, the responsibility for declaring and paying tax lies with the investor.

The most serious drawback of this investment instrument and at the same time the biggest risk for the investor is the lack of compulsory compulsory health insurance. This fact requires especially careful selection of a bank for conducting compulsory medical insurance.

Buying precious coins.

The tax legislation of the Russian Federation classifies platinum coins of the Russian Federation and the USSR as commemorative, therefore, when buying these coins, you must pay VAT, which will be 18% of the value of the coin. Income from investments in precious coins is calculated as the difference between the price of the initial purchase of coins from the bank and the price of their subsequent sale to the bank.

In the Soviet Union, commemorative commemorative platinum coins were issued from 1977 to 1991. In Russia, platinum coins were issued from 1992 to 1996. Platinum coins are also issued by other states.

It is worth noting that platinum coins are very rare, they are quite difficult to find on sale, not to mention the possibility of their resale in a bank branch.

Purchase of measured bars.

The largest banks in Russia develop and approve their own rules for the sale and purchase of measured bars. These rules describe in more detail the requirements for the compliance of measured bars with standards for the admissibility of their contamination, as well as the cleanliness and integrity of the documentation accompanying them. Before buying bullion, you must carefully study these rules.

If you do not plan to take out an ingot bought from a bank from a certified vault, but wish to transfer it for storage to the same bank by issuing a metal deposit account, then the legislation allows you not to pay the amount of VAT from the purchase.

Many experts believe that platinum is just the investment tool that you can trust and having 10 - 15% of platinum in your investment portfolio of precious metals will not be superfluous at all. But only the investor himself decides whether this type of precious metal can be useful to him or not.

It is one of the chemical elements. A metal of great value. Here is a concise answer to what platinum is. Under natural conditions, Pt occurs in the form of nuggets, it can be "pure" or with impurities.

Details

If you plunge into history, it turns out that platinum got its name thanks to the Spanish conquistadors, at that time they conquered South America. Then they mined silver and discovered a metal resembling silver, which turned out to be refractory.

No one knew how to exploit this metal - the Spaniards did not come up with anything else but to simply throw away Pt.

For a long time, the use of metal was not known. The thing is that it is a refractory element. Antoine Lavoisier was the first to melt it down in 1782. To do this, he used a device he created for supplying burning oxygen, putting there a small part of Pt, which was in charcoal. The scientists were delighted.

The Academy of Sciences in Paris could personally observe this experiment, as it was repeated. It was not easy to do this, because the scientist's apparatus had to be transported, and this required money.

Many saw it. One of the lucky ones was Count Du Nord. But in fact it was Pavel 1 (son of Catherine the Great).

Stocks

Russia also had its own platinum reserves, which were discovered in the Urals in 1819 near Yekaterinburg. Later, in 1854, deposits were found in the Nizhny Tagil district, and industrial production began. Russia has taken a leading position in the production of this metal throughout the world.

There was a great demand for Ural platinum from foreign firms. After the industry began to extract the "pure" metal, this trend only increased. Britain and France showed particular interest at first, and then Germany joined in, and the United States of America also joined.

A lot of metal was mined in the Urals, but not all of it could be exploited. That is why it was decided to create platinum coins in 1826. In addition, they began to produce other products of excellent quality. Now one coin of the 19th century can cost up to 5,000 US dollars. In Russia, they began to mint coins from the white element in 1828.

Pt stocks are currently available in the following countries:

• Zimbabwe;
• China;
• Russia;
• United States of America.

These 5 countries contain about 90% of the world's reserves.

It is interesting! Metal was actively exploited in ancient Egypt when creating various jewelry.

Story

It is curious that the ancient Incas mined and exploited the metal. But the Old World knew nothing about Pt. In 1557, the first news about platinum appeared. But the scammers who counterfeited the money learned an interesting property of Pt - it is perfectly alloyed with gold.

This was followed by the incredible: the Spanish king in 1735 stopped the import of metal into the country. And all its reserves, by decision of the ruler, were to be drowned in the sea.

Not only counterfeiters tried to cheat, but also jewelers. They added an element to an alloy with gold, reducing the price of the item. This process was approached responsibly - it was almost impossible to detect fraud. Platinum contributed to the increase in weight, to somehow compensate for this, they added a little silver. Nevertheless, the fraud was discovered. Therefore, the import of platinum into Europe was banned for a certain period.

public properties

In the chemical table, platinum is named Pt, its autonomous number is 78. A simple chemical element is a heavy but soft metal, its atomic mass is 195.084 amu. e. m. The color of platinum has a silvery-white tint. This is a rare valuable item. The chemical properties of platinum are unique, it is an inert metal.

Platinum's physical properties are phenomenal. To melt platinum, you need to place it where the temperature will reach 1769 degrees Celsius. And for the metal to boil, you need 3800 degrees. It becomes clear that the element has low thermal conductivity.

Platinum nuggets have an external resemblance to silver. But only the properties of silver are lower: it is lighter, prone to damage, and dissolves in nitric acid. Masters, to create products similar to platinum, use alloys including iron, nickel, chromium.

Here are more precise specifications:

It is known that platinum does not occur absolutely without impurities. Therefore, it must be separated from other metals. For this, hydrochloric and nitric acid are useful. From the resulting metal, many products can be made:

• jewelry;
• ingots;
• anode electrodes;
• laboratory glassware;
• chemical equipment.

Pt is used in many areas. This may be the chemical and electronic industries, as well as medicine. For example, refineries operate platinum catalysts.

It is used to make laboratory glassware. Improved sensors, thermometers - all this cannot exist without platinum. And in medicine, platinum has earned a special calling. It is used in medicines aimed at combating cancer.

The main advantages of platinum:

• has plasticity and malleability;
• electrical conductivity;
• high melting point;
• surpasses gold and silver in several criteria (harder, heavier);
• does not oxidize, does not react with other substances.

A good way to invest is platinum coins. At the moment, coins from this element are of particular value and uniqueness. Their face value is 12 rubles. The real price is much higher. These are coins of 1832, they are very rare and have a lot of weight.

They also attract investment in bullion. You can buy them at the Bank of Russia. The front side reflects the marking:

• country of origin (“Russia” in an oval);
• weight;
• element name;
• weight fraction / metric sample;
• manufacturer's trademark.

Two technologies for applying the inscription are used: convex, depressed.

Platinum has won the hearts of many women and men. The great Louis-Francois Cartier, the founder of the famous Cartier company, contributed to the fact that many saw the metal. It was he who claimed that this element has no analogues and is very useful in jewelry, as it has many positive properties.

But François was not the only one who admired metal. Another of his admirers was Carl Faberge. The master created author's products. It is curious that many of the ideas of Louis Francois Cartier adopted from Faberge. These include floral arrangements and animal motifs.

jewelry

The metal is of extraordinary beauty, so making jewelry from it is especially profitable. They are expensive and require careful care. Platinum is highly durable, so the fasteners made from it are practically invisible. A platinum thing can conquer a girl.

Jewelry 950 samples are made from "pure" metal, at least 95%. Care does not take much time, you only need to clean the products once a week. There are many detergents that allow you to clean metal. And if scratches appear, it is worth giving the product to the master so that he brings it to a new look (polishing).

Platinum candles for cars (Pt contacts) are popular. Metal is used as an electrical conductor. High temperature resistance, corrosion resistance and durability are the main advantages of these candles.

This metal even appeared in the famous film "Platinum Blonde". It was this film that lifted him to the peak of popularity.

Many liked the unpretentious light plot, as well as the original decorations. This film appeared in the 1930s in America. Many years have passed, but since then the popularity of metal has only increased.

The magical properties of platinum lie in its healing effects. It is believed that due to the most powerful energy, it has a positive effect on human health.

Preparations with this metal are used in medicine, since its molecules are capable of much. But not everyone can afford such drugs.

It becomes clear why Pt was able to win the love of people around the world. It's all about the specific characteristics. This metal can be used in production, or it can be used to decorate the hand of a beautiful girl. Investors also cannot resist platinum, because investing in it is the road to the future.

Platinum is a rare, shiny, silver-colored metal. It occupies a special place among other precious metals, being usually more expensive than gold and silver.

This is due to the fact that the extraction of platinum is an extremely laborious process and this metal is very rare. For example, to obtain one ounce of gold, it is enough to refine three tons of ore, and to extract a similar amount of platinum, it is necessary to process up to ten tons of rock.

History of metal use

Platinum has been known since before our era. It was used in ancient Egypt to make a variety of jewelry. It was also common among the Inca tribes, but was forgotten over time. In the photo you can see platinum items discovered by archaeologists:

Only after a long time, the discovery of this substance was due to Spanish travelers who explored South America. Initially, it was not appreciated, as the name suggests. "Platina" in Spanish can be formulated as "little silver".
Accordingly, platinum was valued much less than precious metals. Often it was even considered immature gold or the wrong silver (due to color) and simply thrown away. It is characterized by refractoriness and high density. Therefore, it was considered unsuitable for any use.

However, an interesting property was later discovered - this precious metal has the ability to easily fuse with gold. Jewelers took this into account and actively began to mix platinum into gold items, thereby lowering the cost of their manufacture. Moreover, this was done so skillfully that it was almost impossible to detect a fake. Due to the high density of platinum, even its small volume increased the weight. finished product, but this was compensated by adding a certain amount of silver to the alloy, which did not affect the color. Such fraud was nevertheless recognized, and the import of the precious metal into Europe was prohibited by law for some time.

As an independent chemical element, platinum was recognized only in the middle of the eighteenth century. Careful study of its qualities made it possible to find the first use of this metal.

The physical and operational properties of platinum, especially resistance to various influences and high density, served as the basis for making useful equipment from it. In particular, platinum retorts have been successfully used to concentrate caustic sulfuric acid.

Such vessels were originally made by forging or pressing, since at that time scientific progress could not provide the required temperature in furnaces for melting. By the end of the nineteenth century, it was possible to melt platinum, using for this purpose the flame that occurs during the combustion of explosive gas.

Platinum in Russia

The history of this noble metal in Russia dates back to 1819, when it was first found in the Urals, not far from Yekaterinburg. Five years later, deposits of platinum were found in the Nizhny Tagil district. Placers turned out to be so abundant that Russia quickly became the leader in production worldwide.

In the photo you can see the largest nugget mined at these deposits:

Its weight was 12 kg (unfortunately, it was later melted down).

Ural platinum was actively bought by foreign companies, exports especially increased after an industrial method was developed for purifying it from impurities and creating pure silver ingots. Initially, it was in great demand abroad in England and France, later the USA and Germany joined them.

In the process of research, scientists discovered some elements that make up native platinum. Palladium and rhodium were the first to replenish Mendeleev's periodic table, and later iridium and osmium were isolated. And the final element in the platinum group was ruthenium, discovered in 1844.

Due to the fact that the volumes of platinum mined in the Urals were extremely high and most of the metal simply did not find worthy use, in 1828 it was decided to issue platinum coins. The photo shows the first Russian-made coins made from this precious metal.

By that time, a way had already been found to produce various high-quality products. This method, called powder metallurgy, is widely used today. At the moment, Russian platinum coins of the 19th century are of tremendous value. The cost of one copy can reach up to 5000 US dollars.

For the manufacture of jewelry, most of the mined platinum was used until the middle of the twentieth century, after which it began to be used more often for technical purposes. It is applied in the following industries:

• Automotive industry (for the manufacture of catalysts);
• Electrical engineering (creation of elements for electric furnaces exposed to high temperatures);
• Petrochemical and organic synthesis;
• Synthesis of ammonia.

It is also used in the manufacture of parts for glass melting furnaces, a variety of laboratory equipment, equipment for industries where resistance to chemical and thermal influences is necessary.

Basic properties

You can often hear the opinion that platinum and white gold are one and the same. But in fact, such a statement is fundamentally wrong, they are similar only in color.

Platinum is a chemical element of the periodic table (the natural classification of elements according to the electronic structure of atoms), with its own characteristic properties. Although the photo shows some resemblance to white gold in appearance.

It is a precious metal of silver color, but it still looks a little different than silver. It differs from others also in its characteristics and methods of application.

Physical and chemical properties of platinum

This element is a refractory metal with a high density, for its melting a temperature of 1769 degrees Celsius is required, and for boiling - 3800 degrees, due to low thermal conductivity.

It is also one of the heaviest metals in the periodic table. According to this indicator, it is surpassed only by two other elements of the platinum group - osmium and iridium. The density under normal conditions is 21.45 grams per square decimeter. The specific gravity is 21.45 grams per cubic centimeter. This indicator is higher than that of gold and is almost twice the specific gravity of silver.

The hardness of platinum is another quality that has made it useful in industry and jewelry. Resistance to various external influences makes the process of processing and manufacturing products more laborious, but its operational properties more than compensate for such inconveniences.

For example, jewelry can be made entirely of pure platinum, while gold and silver require impurities in other materials to ensure strength.

It is also worth noting the high ductility of this metal. It can be used to make the thinnest sheet of foil or light wire, without losing its basic properties.

Platinum belongs to the group of noble metals, as it does not have the ability to oxidize and resists corrosion. The high inertness of the metal does not allow interaction with acids or alkalis. It can only be dissolved in "aqua regia" and liquid bromine, subject to dissolution with prolonged exposure to hot sulfuric acid.

When this substance is heated, the possibility of interaction with other chemical elements, substances and alloys increases. An increase in temperature makes it possible to obtain platinum oxide, which forms on the surface of the metal. There are several varieties of it, which are easy to distinguish by color.

The most famous are:

• Black PtO (dark grey);
• Platinum oxide PtO2 (brown);
• Oxide PtO3 (red-brown).

The speed and degree of oxidation of this metal directly depends on how freely oxygen enters the surface and what its pressure is. Other metals located on the surface of platinum can serve as an obstacle to oxidation. Therefore, the greatest oxidation should be expected from a pure metal without any impurities.

Depending on the particular compound, platinum may exhibit varying degrees oxidation. This indicator varies from 0 to +8.

With a fairly low resistivity, this metal is a good conductor, inferior in this property to aluminum, copper and silver. The resistivity index is close to that of iron.

Accordingly, the specific conductivity of platinum (the reciprocal of resistivity) occupies a similar position among other elements of the periodic table. Since it is a conductor, its resistivity increases as it heats up, while its conductivity, on the contrary, decreases. This property is due to the fact that the particles in the composition of platinum begin to move in a chaotic manner with increasing temperature. And this, in turn, creates obstacles for the passage of electric current.

One of the most important qualities, which is widely used in production, is the property of this noble metal to act as a catalyst for numerous chemical reactions. It is usually used in an alloy with rhodium or as platinum black - a fine powder of a characteristic black color, obtained as a result of the reduction of compounds.

Platinum resistance thermometers are now quite widespread (illustrated in the photo). This is due to the fact that this substance is practically not subject to corrosion, has a high degree of plasticity, inertness and makes it possible to use pure metal for production. An important role is played by such qualities as high resistivity and a significant temperature coefficient of resistance.

Conclusion

Most people think of platinum as a very expensive silvery white metal that is used to make jewelry. However, due to its numerous properties, it has become widespread in various fields of human activity, from medicine to the automotive industry.

Although platinum has never been used as money in its entire history, investing in platinum is considered a fairly profitable investment. One ounce of this metal exceeds the cost of a similar amount of gold by $270. If you constantly monitor the rate of precious metals, you can get a good profit.