What is platinum and what does it look like? Precious metal - platinum. Origin of the name - platinum

Platinum is perhaps the most noble of metals. Pure platinum items are as rare as they are expensive. This is one of the forms of Neptune; it is associated with mystery, contemplation, a high degree of dedication, religious mysticism, spirituality, and insight.

It activates the natural talent of the medium, promotes the acquisition of revelations and prophetic visions, and enhances empathy - therefore, wearing this metal is especially recommended for clergy, 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. 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 virtually no negative qualities; but she categorically does not tolerate a certain category of people and will only bring them trouble - these are, first of all, people who are unceremonious, rude, mentally callous, who allow themselves to invade other people’s lives. Platinum punishes especially harshly for theft, even, as they say, “in small things” - according to some sources, it even punishes physically, provoking diseases and bone fractures in the wearer.

With all this, the favorable energy of platinum manifests itself in wisdom, tolerance and forgiveness; this is the personification of a magnanimous and merciful higher power, rewarding what is deserved, but mitigating punishment.

Platinum has a positive effect on people of the water or water-air element, especially those born under the sign of Pisces. A platinum chain elevates the spirit and helps to find the way to Heaven, 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 helps you achieve truly great goals without stopping there or following the path of least resistance. For such a ring to “work”, it must only be given as a gift, and not purchased independently.

Platinum earrings make a person actually forget about his gender, tuning him in tune with the universe and giving him 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 effect on the human body. What is the effect of platinum jewelry on health?

Often, platinum jewelry is recommended for mature people to wear; women mainly prefer earrings and rings, chains with pendants.

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

Platinum is considered to be a fairly strong and at the same time good metal. It has an effect 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 already exist, platinum softens their course. Such a precious metal brings sound and healthy sleep to those who wear it.

The specificity of platinum is that its influence is no longer aimed at the mind, but at the subconscious part, so to speak, at the astral body.

Platinum has a fairly good effect on the activity of the urinary organs; it also affects the removal of chemicals and toxins from the body.

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

To obtain healthy results, it is recommended to wear a platinum ring, taking into account the following aspects:

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

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

It also matters which finger the platinum is worn on:

- on the nameless one - helps improve extrasensory abilities and normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system;

- on the index finger - affects spiritual development and insight;

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

— wearing platinum on the little fingers and thumbs is prohibited, even for a short time. This can cause a sharp drop in energy and sudden illness.

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

Platinum can be easily processed by pressure (forging, rolling, drawing). It is characterized by increased 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 when heated, and when cooled it retains its natural color.

Platinum is one of the rarest elements, its average concentration in the earth's crust is 5 10 -7% by mass. It is found 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 to the European continent samples of native platinum found in Peru. The Italian chemist Gilius Scaliger discovered the indecomposability of platinum in 1735 and thus proved that it is an independent chemical element. Platinum was first obtained in its pure form from ores by the English chemist W. Wollaston in 1803.

PROPERTIES OF PLATINUM

Physical properties of platinum. Crystallizes into face-centered cubic lattices. When salt solutions are exposed to reducing agents, the metal can be obtained in the form of “black”, which is highly dispersed.

Platinum is capable of absorbing some 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 absorbs oxygen strongly: 100 volumes of oxygen per volume of platinum black.

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

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

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 are identified: black PtO, brown PtO2, reddish-brown PtO3, Pt2O3 and Pt3O4.

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

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

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

HISTORY OF PLATINUM IN RUSSIA

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

In 1823 V.V. Lyubarsky, Berg Assayer of the laboratory of the St. Petersburg Mining Corps, examined these grains and found that the mysterious “Siberian metal belongs to a special type 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 first place in the world in platinum production.

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

On March 21, 1827, in the conference hall of the St. Petersburg Mining Cadet Corps, at a crowded ceremonial meeting of the Scientific Committee on Mining and Salt, the first products made from Russian platinum were shown using a new method - 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 a special decree, due to fear of counterfeiting and the import 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 allowed its duty-free export abroad. Taking advantage of the favorable 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 world production.

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

Platinum mining

Pure platinum is very rare in nature. The main form of its occurrence in 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. Natural alloys of platinum with only palladium or only with iridium are known. There are also a few minerals - compounds of platinum with sulfur, arsenic, and antimony.

Industrial use is technically possible and economically feasible if the ores contain platinum metals:
- in primary deposits from 2 - 5 g/t to a few kg/t;
- in primary complex - from tenths to hundreds (occasionally thousands) g/t;
- in placer 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 using open and underground methods. The majority of alluvial and some primary deposits are developed by open-pit mining. 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 ore, a “raw” concentrate is obtained - a concentrate with 70 - 90% 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 bulk of platinum deposits (more than 90%) are located in the subsoil of five countries. These include South Africa, USA, Russia, Zimbabwe, China.

In 2008, 200 tons of platinum were mined worldwide. The production leaders 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 production 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 world's proven reserves of platinum group metals amount to about 80,000 tons and are distributed mainly between South Africa (87.5%), Russia (8.3%) and the USA (2.5%).

Platinum production

Raw platinum is sent from the mines 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 found 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 the platinum is converted into the H2 complex.

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

Now you can introduce ammonia and precipitate platinum in the form of ammonium chloroplatinate. Ammonium chloride solution 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 purified with ammonia solution and dried. The dry sediment 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. It is then melted in an oxygen-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 several 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, more than 50% of platinum was used in jewelry. Currently, about 90% of 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. Platinum is used to make: crucibles, cups, glasses, spoons, spatulas, spatulas, tips, filters, electrodes. Platinum utensils are used for particularly precise and responsible analytical operations.

Application of platinum in technology

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

Platinum is the best catalyst for the oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen 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 in catalytic reforming units, high-octane gasoline, aromatic hydrocarbons and technical hydrogen are produced from gasoline and naphtha fractions of oil.

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 instrument making. Fuel cell electrodes are made from it.

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

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

Platinum and its alloys are also used for the manufacture of:
— special mirrors for laser technology;
— heating elements of resistance furnaces;
— anode rods to protect submarine hulls from corrosion;
— insoluble anodes in electroplating;
— galvanic coatings;
— permanent magnets with high coercivity and residual magnetization (platinum-cobalt alloy 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).

Application 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, and nickel are excellent materials for dentures.

The inertness of platinum to any compounds, its electrical conductivity and non-allergenic properties 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 number of tumors.

The use of platinum in jewelry

Every year the global jewelry industry consumes about 50 tons of platinum. Most platinum jewelry trade items contain 95% pure platinum. It contains 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 bright shine of platinum best reflects the true brilliance of diamonds, makes a beautiful setting for precious stones and pairs with the 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 its strength. Silver and gold jewelry can wear out and will have to be sent in for repairs to replace the worn part with new metal. Platinum products do not wear out, they are practically timeless.

INVESTING IN PLATINUM

Platinum's rarity and high demand make it an attractive metal for investment. Investing in platinum is a powerful financial tool that, if used skillfully, can significantly increase your capital. This is an expensive high-status metal, which is widely used in industry. It is the growing demand for platinum that is the main reason for the confident increase 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 for immediate delivery, there are futures contracts. Prices are indicated in troy ounces.

From an investment point of view, platinum represents a definite alternative to saving money in a particular currency. In Russia, investing 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 carry out transactions with physical bullion and using impersonal metal accounts. To carry out such operations for their clients, banks require a special license under Russian law.

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

Opening of impersonal metal accounts (OMA).

Compulsory medical insurance can be opened either by depositing physical metal (ingots) into this account, or by purchasing unallocated metal from a bank for cash rubles, or by debiting funds from a current account or deposit account. Based on the period of operation of compulsory health insurance, a distinction is made between current and deposit accounts.

Compulsory medical insurance on demand (current). Income is generated based on the increase in the exchange rate 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.

Compulsory medical insurance urgent (deposit). The storage period for savings in a deposit compulsory medical insurance is fixed; it is agreed upon when opening an account and varies among different banks. Income is generated through interest accrued in grams of precious metals and the dynamics of precious metals quotes on world markets for this period. It may happen that at the expiration date of the contract, prices on the market will change in an unfavorable direction, and this may bring you losses.

Banks charge clients commissions for individual account transactions, namely:
— for crediting precious metal to the account upon physical delivery of bullion;
— for the issuance of precious metal from an impersonal metal account in physical form;
— income received from changes in precious metal quotations is subject to personal income tax at a rate of 13%; the responsibility for declaring and paying tax falls on the investor.

The most serious drawback of this investment instrument and at the same time the greatest risk for the investor is the lack of compulsory compulsory medical insurance. This fact requires particularly 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 purchasing these coins, you must pay VAT, which will be 18% of the cost 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 anniversary coins made of platinum were issued from 1977 to 1991. In Russia, platinum coins were issued from 1992 to 1996. Platinum coins are also issued by other countries.

It is worth noting that platinum coins are very rare; they are quite difficult to find for sale, not to mention the possibility of reselling them in a bank branch.

Purchase of measuring bars.

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

If you do not plan to remove the bullion purchased from the bank from a certified storage facility, but want to transfer it for safekeeping to the same bank by opening a metal safekeeping account, then the legislation allows you not to pay the amount of VAT on the purchase.

Many experts believe that platinum is exactly the investment instrument that you can trust and having 10 - 15% of platinum in your investment portfolio of precious metals will not be superfluous. 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 the succinct 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 dive into history, it turns out that platinum got its name thanks to the Spanish conquistadors, at that time they were conquering South America. Then they mined silver and discovered a metal similar to silver, which turned out to be refractory.

Nobody 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 the metal was unknown. The thing is that it is a refractory element. Antoine Lavoisier was the first to melt it in 1782. To do this, he used a device he created to supply burning oxygen, putting there a small part of Pt that was in charcoal. The scientists were delighted.

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

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

Reserves

Russia also had its own reserves of platinum, 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 extraction of this metal throughout the world.

There was great demand for Ural platinum from foreign firms. After the industry began to extract “pure” metal, this trend only increased. At first, England and France showed particular interest, and then Germany became involved, 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. Nowadays, one 19th century coin can cost up to $5,000. In Russia, coins from the white element began to be minted in 1828.

Currently, Pt reserves are available in the following countries:

Zimbabwe;
China;
Russia;
USA.

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

This is interesting! Metal was actively used in Ancient Egypt to create various jewelry.

Story

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

What followed was 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 the alloy with gold, reducing the price of the product. This process was approached responsibly - it was almost impossible to detect deception. Platinum contributed to weight gain; in order to somehow compensate for this, a little silver was added. Nevertheless, it was possible to identify the deception. 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. The simple chemical element is a heavy but soft metal, its atomic mass is 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's physical properties are phenomenal. To melt platinum, you need to place it where the temperature will reach 1769 degrees Celsius. And for 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 the properties of silver are lower: it is lighter, susceptible to damage, and dissolves in nitric acid. Craftsmen, to create products similar to platinum, use alloys including iron, nickel, and chromium.

Here are more precise characteristics:

It is known that platinum does not occur completely without impurities. Therefore, it must be separated from other metals. Hydrochloric and nitric acid are useful for this. Many products can be made from the resulting metal:

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

Pt is used in many fields. This could be the chemical and electronics industries, as well as medicine. For example, oil refining organizations use 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 medications 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 made from this element are particularly valuable and unique. Their face value is 12 rubles. The real price is much higher. These are coins from 1832, they are very rare and have a lot of weight.

Investments in bullion are also attracted. You can buy them at the Bank of Russia. The front side reflects the markings:

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

Two technologies for applying inscriptions are used: convex and depressed.

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

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

Jewelry

The metal is distinguished by its extraordinary beauty, so making jewelry from it is especially profitable. They are expensive and require careful care. Platinum is highly durable, so fasteners made from it are practically invisible. You can conquer a girl with a platinum item.

Jewelry of 950 standard is made from “pure” metal, at least 95%. Maintenance does not take much time; you only need to clean the products once a week. There are many cleaning products available to clean metal. And if scratches appear, you should give the product to a craftsman so that he can bring it to a new look (polishing).

Platinum spark plugs for cars (Pt contacts) are popular. The metal is used as an electrical conductor. High heat 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 brought him to the peak of popularity.

Many people liked the simple, light plot, as did the original decorations. This film appeared in 1930 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 its powerful energy, it has a beneficial effect on human health.

Preparations containing this metal are used in medicine, as its molecules are capable of many things. 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- mineral, natural Pt from the platinum group of the class of native elements, usually contains Pd, Ir, Fe, Ni. Pure platinum is very rare; most samples are represented by the ferrous variety (polyxene), and often by intermetallic compounds: isoferroplatinum (Pt,Fe) 3 Fe and tetraferroplatinum (Pt,Fe) Fe. Platinum, represented by polyxene, is the most common mineral of the platinum subgroup in the earth's crust.

See also:

STRUCTURE

The crystal lattice of platinum belongs to the cubic system. The cyclohexene molecule has the shape of a regular hexagon. In the reaction system under consideration, the atomic structure of the catalyst and the reacting molecules have one common quality - elements of third-order symmetry. In a platinum crystal, this arrangement of atoms is inherent only in the octahedral face. Platinum atoms are located at the nodes. a = 0.392 nm, Z = 4, space group Fm3m

PROPERTIES

The color of polyxene ranges from silver-white to steel-black. The dash is metallic steel gray. The shine is typical metallic. The reflectivity in polished sections is high - 65-70.
Hardness is 4-4.5, for varieties rich in iridium - up to 6-7. It has malleability. The fracture is hooked. Cleavage is usually absent. Ud. weight 15-19. A connection between the reduced specific gravity and the presence of voids occupied by natural gases, as well as inclusions of foreign minerals, has been noted. It is magnetic and paramagnetic. Conducts electricity well. Platinum is one of the most inert metals. It is insoluble in acids and alkalis, with the exception of aqua regia. Platinum also reacts directly with bromine, dissolving in it.

When heated, platinum becomes more reactive. It reacts with peroxides, and upon contact with atmospheric oxygen, with alkalis. A thin platinum wire burns in fluorine, releasing a large amount of heat. Reactions with other non-metals (chlorine, sulfur, phosphorus) occur less actively. When heated more strongly, platinum reacts with carbon and silicon, forming solid solutions, similar to the iron group metals.

RESERVES AND PRODUCTION

Platinum is one of the rarest metals: its average content in the earth's crust (clarke) is 5·10−7% by mass. Even the so-called native platinum is an alloy containing from 75 to 92 percent platinum, up to 20 percent iron, as well as iridium, palladium, rhodium, osmium, and less often copper and nickel.

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

In Russia, the main deposits of platinum group metals are: Oktyabrskoye, Talnakhskoye and Norilsk-1 sulfide-copper-nickel in the Krasnoyarsk Territory in the Norilsk region (more than 99% of explored and more than 94% of estimated Russian reserves), Fedorova Tundra (Bolshoi Ikhtegipakhk site) sulfide- copper-nickel in the Murmansk region, as well as alluvial deposits Konder in the Khabarovsk Territory, Levtyrinyvayam in the Kamchatka Territory, the Lobva and Vyisko-Isovskoye rivers in the Sverdlovsk Region. The largest platinum nugget found in Russia is the “Ural Giant” weighing 7860.5g, discovered in 1904. at the Isovsky mine.

Native platinum is mined at mines; alluvial platinum deposits are less rich, which are explored mainly by the method of spot sampling.

The production of platinum in powder form began in 1805 by the English scientist W. H. Wollaston from South American ore.
Today, platinum is obtained from a concentrate of platinum metals. The concentrate is dissolved in aqua regia, after which ethanol and sugar syrup are added to remove excess HNO 3. In this case, iridium and palladium are reduced to Ir 3+ and Pd 2+. By subsequent addition of ammonium chloride, ammonium hexachloroplatinate(IV) (NH 4) 2 PtCl 6 is isolated. The dried sediment is calcined at 800-1000 °C
The sponge platinum thus obtained is subjected to further purification by repeated dissolution in aqua regia, precipitation of (NH 4) 2 PtCl 6 and calcination of the residue. The purified sponge platinum is then melted into ingots. When reducing solutions of platinum salts by chemical or electrochemical methods, finely dispersed platinum is obtained - platinum black.

ORIGIN

Platinum group minerals are mostly found in typical igneous deposits, genetically related to ultramafic igneous rocks. These minerals are among the last to be released in ore bodies (after silicates and oxides) at moments corresponding to the hydrothermal stage of the magmatic process. Platinum minerals poor in palladium (polyxene, platinum iridium, etc.) are found in deposits among dunites - olivine feldspar-free rocks rich in magnesia and poor in silica. Moreover, paragenetically they are extremely closely related to chrome spinels. Nickel-palladized platinum is predominantly distributed in basic igneous rocks (norites, gabbro-norites) and is usually associated with sulfides: pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pentlandite.
Under exogenous conditions, in the process of destruction of bedrock deposits and rocks, platinum placers are formed. Most minerals of the platinum subgroup are chemically stable under these conditions. Platinum in placers occurs in the form of nuggets, flakes, plates, cakes, concretions, as well as skeletal forms and spongy secretions ranging in size from 0.05 to 5 mm, sometimes up to 12 mm. Flattened and lamellar platinum grains indicate significant removal from bedrock sources and redeposition. The range of platinum transfer in placers usually does not exceed 8 km; in spit placers it is greater. Palladite and cuprous varieties of platinum in the hypergenesis zone can be “ennobled”, losing Pd, Cu, and Ni. Cu and Ni content, according to A.G. Betekhtin, in platinum from placers can be reduced by more than 2 times compared to platinum from an indigenous source. In placers in many areas of the world, newly formed chemically pure platinum and palladium platinum in the form of sintered forms of a radial-radiant structure have been described.

APPLICATION

Platinum compounds (mainly amminoplatinates) are used as cytostatics in the treatment of various forms of cancer. Cisplatin (cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)) was the first to be introduced into clinical practice; however, more effective carboxylate complexes of diammineplatinum - carboplatin and oxaliplatin - are currently used.

Platinum and its alloys are widely used in jewelry production.

The world's first platinum coins were issued and circulated in the Russian Empire from 1828 to 1845. Minting began with three-ruble coins. In 1829, “platinum duplons” (six-ruble coins) were established, and in 1830, “quadruples” (twelve-ruble coins). The following coin denominations were minted: 3, 6 and 12 rubles. 1,371,691 pieces of three-ruble coins were minted, 14,847 pieces of six-ruble coins were minted. and twelve-ruble coins - 3474 pcs.

Platinum was used in the manufacture of insignia for outstanding services: the image of V.I. Lenin on the Soviet Order of Lenin was made from platinum; The Soviet Order of Victory, the Order of Suvorov, 1st degree, and the Order of Ushakov, 1st degree, were made from it.

Since the first quarter of the 19th century, it was used in Russia as an alloying additive for the production of high-strength steels.
Platinum is used as a catalyst (most often in an alloy with rhodium, and also in the form of platinum black - a fine powder of platinum obtained by reducing its compounds).
Vessels and stirrers used in the melting of optical glasses are made from platinum.
For the manufacture of laboratory glassware (crucibles, spoons, etc.) resistant to chemicals and high heat.
For the manufacture of permanent magnets with high coercive force and residual magnetization (an alloy of three parts of platinum and one part of cobalt PlK-78).
Special mirrors for laser technology.
For the manufacture of durable and stable electrical contacts in the form of alloys with iridium, for example, contacts of electromagnetic relays (alloys PLI-10, PLI-20, PLI-30).
Galvanic coatings.
Distillation retorts for the production of hydrofluoric acid, production of perchloric acid.
Electrodes for the production of perchlorates, perborates, percarbonates, peroxodisulfuric acid (in fact, the use of platinum determines the entire world production of hydrogen peroxide: electrolysis of sulfuric acid - peroxodisulfuric acid - hydrolysis - distillation of hydrogen peroxide).
Insoluble anodes in electroplating.
Heating elements of resistance furnaces.
Manufacturing of resistance thermometers.
Coatings for microwave technology elements (waveguides, attenuators, resonator elements).

Platinum - Pt

CLASSIFICATION

Strunz (8th edition)	1/A.14-70
Nickel-Strunz (10th edition)	1.AF.10
Dana (7th edition)	1.2.1.1
Dana (8th edition)	1.2.1.1
Hey's CIM Ref	1.82

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

OPTICAL PROPERTIES

CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC PROPERTIES

Point group	m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - isometric hexaoctahedral
Space group	Fm3m
singonia	cubic
Cell Options	a = 3.9231Å
Twinning	total for (111)

Platinum is a noble metal with a special shine and silvery-white color. In the periodic table of Mendeleev, platinum is designated by the symbol Pt (Platinum), and the metal is assigned atomic number 78.

The name "platinum" means "little silver". For a long time, platinum, due to its refractoriness, was valued even lower than silver.

The Incas have been mining platinum since time immemorial. Conquistadors brought platinum to Europe. But demand for this metal appeared only in the 18th century. Before this, platinum was often ranked lower than gold in all respects. King Charles III of Spain in 1735 even ordered that all the brought platinum be drowned in the waters of the sea.

The discoverer of platinum is considered to be Antonio de Ulloa, a Spanish mathematician and navigator who brought platinum nuggets mined in Peru to Europe. However, the first to prove that platinum is an independent chemical element was J. Scaliger. This happened in 1835.

Characteristics and types of platinum

Platinum is one of the heaviest and rarest metals on our planet. Platinum is a very hard metal, difficult to process, as it has high melting and boiling points.

Platinum is also very stable. It can only be dissolved in aqua regia or bromine. The chemical industry especially values the properties of platinum as a catalyst.

Platinum deposit and mining

Until the mid-18th century, platinum was mined in America. In Europe, jewelers were the first to show interest in platinum. They appreciated the fact that platinum perfectly alloys with gold, making gold stronger and more stable. Counterfeiters took full advantage of this, using platinum to make counterfeit gold coins.

Before the First World War, most of the platinum was mined in Russia. The richest deposits of this metal were found near Yekaterinburg and Nizhny Tagil. Most of the production was sold abroad - to Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Currently, South Africa is the leader among platinum mining countries. Next come Russia, Canada, Zimbabwe, USA and Colombia. The leader in platinum mining on the Russian market is the Norilsk Nickel company.

Application of platinum

Platinum has been used in many areas. Thus, in industry, platinum is valued as a powerful catalyst. It is used in the manufacture of laser equipment, laboratory glassware, and resistance thermometers. The metal is also used to protect submarine hulls from corrosion and is used to coat the surfaces of microwave equipment. Platinum is used in medicine and other fields of science.

Platinum is also used in jewelry. The leader in the sale of platinum jewelry is China. About 25 tons of platinum jewelry are sold annually in this country.

Platinum is added to alloys when minting coins. The first coins containing this metal began to be issued in Russia. Now no one can afford to issue coins from pure platinum. Coins containing this noble metal are investment grade.

The absence of platinum ores and the low metal content in them, the absence of large deposits and hence the very high cost of the metal largely limit the practical use of platinum.

Use of platinum in industry and technology

Since the first quarter of the 19th century, it has been used in Russia as an alloying additive for the production of high-strength steels

Platinum is used in jewelry, dentistry, and medicine.

Production of miniature magnets of enormous strength (platinum-cobalt alloy, PlK-78).

In the oil refining industry, high-octane gasoline, aromatic hydrocarbons and technical hydrogen are produced from gasoline and naphtha fractions of oil using platinum catalysts in catalytic reforming units.

Special mirrors for laser technology.

Extremely durable and stable electrical contacts and alloys for radio engineering (Pli-10, Pli-20, Pli-30 (platinum-iridium).

Distillation retorts for the production of hydrofluoric acid.

Electrodes for the production of perchlorates, perborates, percarbonates, peroxodisulfuric acid (in fact, the entire world production of hydrogen peroxide is based on platinum: electrolysis of sulfuric acid - peroxodisulfuric acid - hydrolysis - distillation of hydrogen peroxide).

In the automotive industry, platinum is also used in catalytic
properties of this metal - for afterburning and neutralization of exhaust gases,
for the purpose of equipping cars with special cleaning devices
exhaust gases from harmful impurities.

Insoluble anodes in electroplating.

Anode rods for corrosion protection of submarine hulls.

Heating elements of resistance furnaces.

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. Some platinum compounds are used against various tumors.

Platinum compounds (mainly tetrachloroplatinates) are used as cytostatics (“cis-platinum”). However, more effective anticancer drugs are now available.

Use of platinum in jewelry

Most platinum jewelry contains 95% pure metal. There are very few impurities in it, so platinum products do not fade over time and do not lose their color and shine.

Every year the global jewelry industry consumes about 50 tons of platinum. Before 2001, most platinum jewelry was consumed in Japan. Since 2001, China has accounted for approximately 50% of global sales. In 1980, China consumed about 1% of platinum jewelry. Currently, about 10 million platinum products with a total weight of about 25 tons are sold annually in China.

Most platinum jewelry contains 95% pure platinum. There are very few impurities in it, so platinum products do not fade over time and do not lose their color and shine.

Platinum is more durable than other precious metals due to its density and weight. Like other metals, it may get scratched, but the metal will only move and not be lost, as when scratching gold. The jeweler will be able to polish the product without losing weight.

Another property - plasticity - allows jewelers to make accessories from platinum mesh that cannot be made from other precious metals.

For jewelry purposes, platinum is produced in the form of granules - this makes it more convenient to weigh it for making the alloy. You may notice that, unlike gold granules, platinum granules have an irregular shape and look like elongated drops. Perhaps due to the higher melting point of platinum (almost 700°C higher than that of gold), its drops solidify in flight, immediately after pouring the metal from the crucible, and do not have time to take a spherical shape.

Monetary function of metal

Platinum, gold and silver are the main metals that perform a monetary function. However, platinum began to be used for making coins several thousand years later than gold and silver.

In 1846, the minting of platinum coins was stopped, although by this year the production of Ural platinum amounted to about 2,000 poods or 32,000 kg, of which 14,669 kg were minted into coins. A huge amount of platinum, accumulated at the St. Petersburg Mint, partly in the form of coins, and partly in unprocessed form (according to various sources, from 720 to 2000 poods), was sold to the English company Johnson, Matte and Co. As a result, England, which did not mine a single gram of platinum, had a monopolist in this industry for a long time.

After 1846, no country allowed itself the “luxury” of introducing platinum coins into circulation. Platinum coins currently issued by different countries are bullion coins. In the period from 1992 to 1995, investment platinum coins in denominations of 25, 50 and 150 rubles were issued by the Bank of Russia.

Other uses of platinum

Platinum mirrors are known; they are produced by applying a thin layer of platinum to a glass surface. Platinum mirrors are stable, do not fade, give a clear image, and most importantly have a remarkable feature - one-sided transparency. The essence of the phenomenon is that from the side of the light source the mirror is opaque and reflects the objects in front of it, while from the shadow side it is transparent and through the mirror you can see everything as well as through clean glass. Thanks to this feature, platinum mirrors became widespread in the United States at one time. They were inserted instead of glass into the windows of the lower floors of offices, typing bureaus and other institutions, as well as residential premises, instead of curtains and screens.

Platinum also has one more valuable property: it is well soldered into glass, which is important in the manufacture of glass devices. The operating principle of such resistance thermometers is based on the ability of platinum to change (increase) electrical resistance in strict dependence on the increase in temperature. If a platinum wire is connected to a device that records changes in resistance, then the change in temperature will be accurately recorded by this device. The instrument scale is graduated in degrees.

Use of platinum in chemistry

Platinum crucibles are used if the reaction must be carried out by heating in air (although they can also be heated in a vacuum oven). If they want to carry out high-temperature synthesis without air access (or want to “not miss” the gases released in the reaction), they use platinum ampoules. In the simplest case, it is a tube welded at one end. The substances are placed inside, the second end of the ampoule is flattened with pliers and brewed on an oxygen burner. After the synthesis is completed, the ampoule is opened and the substance is removed. In fact, it is used as a disposable utensil, but, of course, the platinum can then be cleaned and the same ampoule can be made again.

Another well-known use of platinum is as a material for thermocouples. More precisely, it is part of the platinum-rhodium alloy from which thermocouple conductors are made. In general, there are a great many types of thermocouples. Chromel-alumel, copper-constantan, tungsten-rhenium, nichrome-nickel, etc. But platinum-platonrhodiaceous are most suitable for use in laboratory practice, since they allow reliably measuring temperatures in air up to values of 1600 °C - 1700 °C.

Platinum ampoules are used when it is necessary to carry out synthesis in a closed volume, in an atmosphere of inert gas, or when volatile substances are used. If you need to carry out synthesis in a gas flow or vice versa, burn the sample for analysis.

Platinum is the best catalyst for the oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen oxide NO in one of the main processes for the production of nitric acid. The catalyst here appears in the form of a mesh of platinum wire with a diameter of 0.05...0.09 mm. Rhodium additive (5...10%) was added to the mesh material. A ternary alloy is also used - 93% Pt, 3% Rh and 4% Pd. The addition of rhodium to platinum increases mechanical strength and increases the service life of the mesh, and palladium slightly reduces the cost of the catalyst and slightly (by 1...2%) increases its activity. The service life of platinum mesh is one to one and a half years. After this, the old meshes are sent to the refinery for regeneration and new ones are installed. The production of nitric acid consumes significant quantities of platinum.

Platinum catalysts are no less important in the oil refining industry. With their help, high-octane gasoline, aromatic hydrocarbons and technical hydrogen are produced from gasoline and naphtha fractions of oil in catalytic reforming units. Here, platinum is usually used in the form of a fine powder applied to aluminum oxide, ceramics, clay, and coal. Other catalysts (aluminum, molybdenum) also work in this industry, but platinum catalysts have undeniable advantages: greater activity and durability, high efficiency.

The equipment for the production of many highly pure substances and various fluorine-containing compounds is coated with platinum on the inside, and sometimes made entirely of it.