21 Interesting Facts About Platinum
Platinum is considered to be one of the most beautiful and mysterious metals in the history of mankind. In addition to the fact that platinum has a discreet, elegant luster, it can boast of high wear resistance and durability. Today, platinum is widely used both in the production of jewelry and is actively used in the chemical and electronic industries, as well as in medicine.
1. Platinum is a rare noble metal. It is more expensive than gold and silver, as it requires much more time, resources, and financial resources to extract. Platinum is 30 times rarer than gold, which is why it is more expensive. So, in order to get 30 grams of platinum, you need to process about 10 tons of ore.
2. The metal got its name because of its external resemblance to silver. The name – platina – is a diminutive word from the Spanish plata – silver, if you translate it from Spanish literally, then you get – silver.
3. Platinum is one of the most inert metals. It is insoluble in acids and alkalis, with the exception of aqua regia.
4. It is noteworthy that until the middle of the XVIII century, platinum was mined only in America, where it was used in ancient times by the Indians of the Chibcha and Inca civilizations. The conquistadors, on the other hand, discovered platinum in the mid-16th century. It was only in 1748 that it began to be imported to Europe. The first information about platinum “leaked” to Europe, as I said above, in 1748 thanks to the Spaniard Ulloa, who published a description of his journey through exotic South America. And Europeans were able to “feel” prototypes of this metal even earlier – in 1740, when platinum was brought to the mainland from the island of Jamaica and subjected to research, the results of which the world saw in 1751.
5. In the 19th century, standards of the meter and kilogram were made from the alloy of platinum and iridium, which were modeled on the national standards of different countries (at present, the standard of the meter is the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in a certain time).
6. In Russia, platinum was first found in the Urals, in the Verkh-Isetsky District, in 1819. And so, the first giant piece of platinum was found back in 1843. It was named “Russia” and weighed 9 kilograms 635 grams, but it has not survived to this day, as it was melted down. The second largest nugget, like the first, was mined in the Urals, but already in 1904. Today it is considered the largest, and it weighs 7 kilograms 860 grams. Unlike its predecessor, it is well preserved and today is in the Diamond Fund of Russia. It is called the “Ural Giant”.
7. The issue of Russian platinum coins was not long, but it became one of the most significant events in the life of the metal. Their minting began in 1828 and lasted until 1845. During this time, more than 14 tons of coins were issued with a face value of 12 rubles (a total of 3,303 pieces were created), 6 rubles (17,582 coins were minted) and 3 rubles (1,372,000 pieces were issued).
8. In the Soviet Union, platinum was used in the manufacture of some insignia. For example, inserts made of this metal were present in the Order of Suvorov of the 1st degree, the Order of Lenin and the Order of Victory. By the way, the Order of Victory is the highest military award of the USSR.
9. By the way, it was thanks to the study of platinum that several more metals were discovered: rhodium, palladium, iridium, osmium and ruthenium.
10. The main physical properties of platinum, namely high density and high specific gravity, give jewelry made of platinum a significant durability in comparison with jewelry made of gold and silver. By the way, platinum is the best way to set diamonds. Due to its natural strength, the stones are tightly fixed in the product.
11. Platinum received the status of a precious metal in 1751. She was elevated to this rank by the Swedish scientist Theophilus Schaeffer. Platinum was awarded the title of “Queen of Metals” in 1870 by the French monarch Louis XVI.
12. The largest platinum deposits are located in South Africa near Johannesburg. The first place in the world’s platinum production belongs to the Ontario region in Canada. Here, in 1856, large deposits of copper-nickel ores of Sudbury were discovered, in which, along with gold and silver, platinum is also present. Russia ranks second in the world in terms of platinum mining. Notable amounts of platinum are mined in Colombia. Other platinum-producing countries include Ethiopia and Congo.
13. The fashion for platinum jewelry in the 30s of the twentieth century was introduced by the popular Hollywood diva Marlene Dietrich. By the way, around the same time, Edward VII, who abdicated the throne in Britain, was married to the American actress Wallis Simpson. The couple then exchanged platinum Cartier rings. Finally, the fashion for platinum wedding and engagement rings was fixed after the wedding of Elvis Presley and the beauty Priscilla Ann, who chose accessories made of this “eternal metal”.
14. Platinum has a melting point of 3,215°F (1,768.4°C) and a boiling point of 6,917°F (3825°C).
15. Almost half of all platinum produced is used in catalytic converters, which are devices that control emissions from harmful vehicles.
16. By the way, platinum is almost 3 times stronger than gold. The hardness of platinum according to Brinell is 50 kgf/mm2, the hardness of gold is 18 kgf/mm2.
17. By the way, platinum is a powerful antioxidant, so it is successfully used in cosmetology.
18. So, for reference. In Isaac Asimov’s short story series “I, Robot” and his other works, the positronic brains of robots are made of spongy platinum.
19. Platinum has also been found in meteorites. For example, in Chelyabinsk, it is four times more abundant than gold and silver (20 and 5 grams per ton, respectively).
20. Platinum metal itself does not have a toxic effect, but a number of platinum compounds cause severe damage, primarily to the kidneys, liver, nervous and immune systems. Poisonous impurities contained, for example, in platinum niello (primarily tellurium) pose a great danger. Thus, when platinum powder enters the gastrointestinal tract, necrosis of the gastrointestinal mucosa, granular dystrophy of hepatocytes, swelling of the epithelium of the convoluted tubules of the kidney, as well as “general intoxication” occur. At the same time, fatal poisoning with metallic platinum was not detected.
21. In the 19th century, the metre and kilogram standards were made of platinum and iridium alloy, which were modeled on the national standards of different countries, including our country. The standard of the kilogram is made of platinum-iridium alloy, which is a straight cylinder with a diameter of 39 mm and a height of 39 mm. At present, the standard of the meter is the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in a certain time.