Platinum

🚗 In Your World

Platinum is a rare and highly valuable precious metal, known for its silvery-white luster and extreme resistance to corrosion. Its most significant use is as a catalyst in vehicle exhaust systems (catalytic converters) to reduce harmful emissions. It is also highly prized for jewelry due to its durability and beauty. In medicine, platinum compounds like cisplatin are powerful anti-cancer drugs.

📖 The Discovery Story

Platinum was used by pre-Columbian South American cultures, but it was not known in Europe until the 16th century. In 1748, Spanish scientist Antonio de Ulloa published a report on a new metal from Colombia that was unworkable and difficult to melt. He called it platina, meaning "little silver." For a long time, it was considered a worthless impurity in silver mines until chemists began to appreciate its unique and valuable properties.

📊 Properties at a Glance