What does platinum react with under normal conditions. Platinum - the magical and healing properties of the noble metal and its effect on humans. Physical properties of platinum

Indicated by the sign Pt.

History of platinum

The ancient world already knew the metal platinum. During archaeological excavations in Egypt, in the ruins of ancient Thebes, an artistic case was found, attributed by experts to the 7th century BC. BC e. This relic of the ancient world contained a grain of iridium-rich platinum.

At the beginning of the 1st century n. e. gold-sand panners in Spain and Portugal began to show a marked interest in the beneficial use of "white lead", or "white gold", as platinum was then called. According to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder (author of the 37-volume book "Natural History"), "white lead" was mined from the gold placers of Valissia (Northwestern Spain) and Lusitania (Portugal). Pliny tells that the "white lead" was collected during washing along with gold at the bottom of the baskets and melted separately.

Long before the capture of South America by the Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors, platinum was mined by the cultural native people - the Incas, who not only owned the secret of cleaning and forging this precious metal, but also knew how to skillfully make various objects and jewelry from it.

The era of the fall of the Roman Empire is marked by the disappearance of jewelers and platinum jewelry dealers. Many centuries passed, and only in the second half of the XVIII century. scientists began to be interested in platinum and its physico-chemical properties.

In 1735, the Spanish mathematician Antonio de Ulloa, while in Equatorial Colombia, drew attention to the frequent presence, together with gold, of an unknown metal, the brilliance of which somewhat resembled the brilliance of silver, but in all other qualities more like gold. This outlandish metal interested de Ulloa, and he brought samples of Colombian platinum to Spain.

In the 18th century, when platinum did not yet have an industrial use, it was mixed with gold and with gold and silver products. The Spanish government learned about this "damage" to precious metals. Fearing the possibility of mass forgery of the gold coin, it decided to destroy all platinum mined together with gold in the kingdom's colonial possessions. In 1735, a decree was issued ordering the destruction of all platinum mined in Colombia. This decree was in effect for several decades. Special officials, in the presence of witnesses, periodically threw cash stocks of platinum into the river.

At the end of the XVIII century. the Spanish kings themselves began to "spoil" the gold coin, mixing platinum with it.

Technical uses of platinum

In 1752, the director of the Swedish mint, Schaeffer, announced the discovery of a new chemical element - platinum. Companions of platinum - palladium, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium and osmium - were discovered much later, in the 19th century. The six listed chemical elements, which are in the eighth group of the periodic system of Mendeleev, make up a group called platinum metals. All these metals have many similar physical and chemical properties and are mostly found together in nature.

At the dawn of the introduction of platinum into technology, scientists dealt with it mostly out of curiosity, but as the properties of platinum were studied in depth, it quickly began to find wide application, especially in the chemical industry. It turned out that platinum is soluble only in aqua regia, insoluble in acids and constant when heated.

Following the appearance of the first samples of chemical glassware made of platinum, it began to be used for the manufacture of distillation apparatus for sulfuric acid. From that moment on, the growth of platinum processing began to increase sharply, since it began to be used in the production of acid-resistant and heat-resistant laboratory chemical equipment, tools and various devices (crucibles, flasks, boilers, tongs, etc.).

Pyrometry uses the exceptional resistance of platinum and its alloys to high temperatures.

Valuable and sometimes indispensable properties of platinum and palladium have long been used in catalytic processes. A significant amount of platinum is spent on the manufacture of contacts for sulfuric acid plants, where it serves as a catalyst in the oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfuric anhydride. Platinum in the form of a grid serves as a catalyst for the oxidation of ammonia in apparatuses of various systems. Numerous organic syntheses also require the use of a platinum catalyst. The palladium catalyst is used in the production of synthetic ammonia and in the production of some organic preparations. Osmium is also used in the production of synthetic ammonia according to Haber-Rosennel.

In electrical engineering, platinum metals are usually used in the form of alloys. Here is a far from complete list of parts of electrical devices where platinum alloys are used: needles for burning, devices for electrical measurements, electrodes (cathodes and anticathodes for X-ray tubes), wires and tapes for electric furnace resistances, magneto contacts (cars, internal combustion engines), contact points (telegraphy, telephony), lightning rod tips, etc.

In electrochemistry, platinum is used in the preparation of various electrolytic products. Medicine and dentistry are among the oldest consumers of platinum. We also note the use of platinum for surgery in the form of tips for devices used for cauterization, syringes for injection and infusion, etc.

The art of jewelery occupies a leading position as a consumer of platinum in the form of alloys. Platinum gemstone settings give better brilliance and cleaner water than other precious metal settings.

Finally, in the form of salts, platinum and its companions are required for photography, for the manufacture of medicines (salts of rhodium and ruthenium) and for the preparation of paints on porcelain (rhodium, iridium - black paint, palladium - silver).

Platinum is also used in the military, for example, for the manufacture of contacts that serve to produce detonation during the explosion of mines, etc.

Application of platinum

Platinum mining

The first place in the world production of platinum 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.

Before the First World War, Canadian platinum did not attract attention, and practical interest in it arose only in 1919, when, as a result of the civil war in the Urals, the extraction of Russian platinum fell sharply, and the world market began to feel a great shortage of this valuable metal. Since 1919, the sludge from the copper-nickel production of Sudbury began to be subjected to thorough processing in order to extract platinum group metals, especially since the cost of associated mining of platinum and its satellites is very low.

Russia occupies the second place in the world in platinum mining. Significant amounts of platinum are mined in Colombia. Other platinum-producing countries include Ethiopia and the Congo. Platinum mined directly from the depths, as well as platinum obtained from ores, is subjected to special processing or refining. Refining consists of the usual processes used on a small scale in the practice of analytical laboratories - dissolution, evaporation, filtration, precipitation, etc. As a result of these operations, pure platinum and separately its satellites are obtained.

Platinum mining

Platinum deposits in Russia

The main platinum-bearing province of the Urals is the western zone of deep igneous rocks, continuously traced for 300 km in the region of the Middle Urals. Platinum deposits in this zone are associated mainly with igneous rocks. During the weathering and destruction of these rocks and when the weathering products are washed away by rivers, pure platinum placers are formed, which are an exceptional feature of the Urals and have provided the bulk of the platinum mined so far.

In the region of the eastern zone of deep igneous rocks there are a number of less valuable deposits of platinum. Here platinum occurs together with gold and osmium iridium. Due to the destruction and erosion of these rocks, mixed gold-platinum and gold-osmite-iridium-platinum placers are formed, which are less valuable from the point of view of the extraction of platinum, which is here only an admixture to gold.

Ural platinum before the war of 1914-1918. ranked first in the world market. In the first half of the XIX century. (from 1828 to 1839) a coin was minted from Ural platinum in Russia. However, the minting of such a coin was discontinued due to the instability of the exchange rate for platinum and the importation of counterfeit coins into Russia.

Despite the fact that in Russia platinum refining began immediately after the discovery of platinum deposits in the Urals. before the revolution, the amount of platinum processed in our country was only 10-13% of the mined metal. Most of the crude platinum and refining intermediates were exported abroad.

There has been a refinery in Moscow for more than 100 years, where they are engaged in the mechanical processing of refined platinum and alloys. It also produces forging, rolling, wire drawing, manufacturing of chemical glassware, grids of electrodes, contacts, pyrometers, electric heaters and other products.

Moscow Refinery

Jewelers call platinum the queen of precious metals. But it was not always so. Until the 18th century, it was not mined on an industrial scale, and even called “bad silver”. Let's figure out what platinum is and what is its value. We learn a lot of interesting facts about how it looks in its original form,.

If you are a happy owner of a platinum jewelry or just want to become one, find out.

It is a silver colored precious metal. Outwardly, it resembles silver, but has completely different physical and chemical properties.

Platinum deposits are rarely found in nature. Their development is extremely labor intensive. For these reasons, the value of the metal on the market is even higher than that of gold.

Expert opinion

Vsevolod Kozlovsky

Platinum (as denoted in chemistry, Pt, platinum) is one of the elements of the periodic table. It is a dense, hard, but very plastic material.

Brief history of appearance

As a jewelry metal, the ancient Egyptians, Incas and Chibcha tribes used it. Platinum came to the European continent along with Spanish sailors from South America. The precious metal was not appreciated at that time. Even the word platina in Spanish sounds like "dirty silver". Since it has a high density, it is refractory, it was considered unfit for consumption. Often even thrown away.

Fraudsters were the first to use Pt in jewelry. It was added to gold alloys, increasing the weight of the item without reducing the cost. Production took such a scale that the import of platinum into Europe was banned.

Only in the middle of the 18th century was metal isolated as a separate chemical element. Properties were studied - operational, physical. At the turn of the 19th century, scientists found out that platinum is not just a noble metal, but also serves as the “mother” for a whole family of platinoids:

• palladium;
• rhodium;
• osmium;
• iridium.

What does platinum look like in nature?

It does not occur in its pure form in nature. Forms isomorphic mixtures with iron, copper, silver, nickel, platinum group metals. Platinum-containing ore has small grains, inclusions of the precious metal.

Native metal is mined nuggets containing from 75 to 92% Pt. They are rarely found. Ferrous platinum (polyxene) is mainly mined, which contains 20-50% iron.

The process of education in nature

Platinum ores are in a dispersed state. They are of igneous origin, released through the crystallization of basic and ultrabasic magmas. At a temperature of 1300-1500 degrees, sulfides, platinum, chloride, osmium, and iridium are separated from the silicate melt.

The surface of primary deposits is destroyed over time. The placers formed as a result of this are convenient for industrial development.

Structure, chemical and physical properties

Expert opinion

Vsevolod Kozlovsky

6 years in jewelry business. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds

The structural structure of the crystal lattice is a cube with elements of symmetry of the third order. , low thermal conductivity, high density (21.45 gr. per dm2). Melting point - 1769 degrees, boiling point - 3800.

Hard material is difficult to handle. It is so durable that it is possible to make jewelry from pure platinum without the addition of impurities.

Other physical and chemical properties:

• plasticity when heated (you can make the thinnest foil or wire);
• resistance to corrosion, oxidation;
• lack of interaction with acids and alkalis;
• low resistivity (serves as a good conductor);
• catalyst for many chemical reactions.

Also look in the video and other properties of platinum:

How are platinum veins found?

The main place of extraction is copper, nickel deposits (primary and alluvial). Of these, platinum is mined along with other metals. Platinum nuggets are found in ultramafic igneous rocks. Natural mineral ores with a high element content are rare.

Satellites of platinum

In platinum deposits, platinum group metals accompany.

In addition, in various rocks, platinum is found with the following associated minerals:

1. Basic and ultrabasic magmas - serpentine, chromite, magnetite, chrysotile-asbestos, olivine, orthorhombic pyroxenes.
2. Placers - chromite, corundum, magnetite, gold, diamonds.
3. Diabase - chalcopyrite.

Where is platinum found in nature?

It is the rarest element in the Earth's crust.

It occurs as nuggets, alloys with nickel, copper, platinum group metals.

Deposits where platinum is found are associated with basic and ultrabasic igneous rocks.

Types of deposits

The deposits of the Ural type are associated with ultrabasic rocks (Urals, South Africa, Columbia, Alaska). Platinum, osmium, iridium are contained in the main rocks with a high content of iron, nickel, and copper sulfates.

The second type of deposits is copper-nickel sulfide. In the composition of ores, platinum group metals are combined with bismuth, sulfur, antimony, and arsenic. They contain, in addition, gold, silver, palladium.

Top countries by production

The leading countries in the world market are:

1. Republic of South Africa.
2. Russia.
3. Zimbabwe.
4. Canada.

World reserves of platinum

80% of the deposits of platinum group metals available for development are located in South Africa (the Bushveld complex in the north of the country).

The second in terms of reserves is the GreatDyke field (Zimbabwe).

3rd and 4th place in the Russian Federation and North America (USA, Canada). Canadian platinum ores are concentrated in the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. In the US, the bulk of production comes from two major mines in Montana.

Colombian alluvial deposits are saturated with platinum group metals. They are concentrated in the west of the Cordillera, in the river valleys of the Atrato, San Juan.

Mining methods

The production process consists of three stages:

1. Ore mining.
2. Enrichment.
3. Obtaining a precious metal of high purity.

Extracting platinum from the earth's interior is a laborious and expensive task. More than 10 tons of ore are processed to extract 1 ounce (31.1 gr.) of precious metal.

There are two ways to get it:

• open;
• underground.

The first option is suitable for alluvial deposits formed as a result of the destruction of the primary rock. It involves the use of quarry equipment, dredges, hydromechanical means.

Primary deposits, buried placers are developed by an underground method. Mines are being dug, holes are drilled in them by hand, and explosives are planted. Pieces of rock that have broken off are brought to the surface by miners for further processing. Today, this option of metal mining is significantly mechanized, but it cannot do without manual labor.

Applications

The industries where platinum is used are varied.

List of applications:

• oil and gas industry (obtaining high-octane gasoline and technical hydrogen from oil fractions);
• automotive industry (manufacturing of catalysts for afterburning exhaust gases);
• electrical engineering (elements of high-temperature furnaces, mirrors for lasers, magnets);
• ammonia synthesis;
• chemical, glass industry (equipment with high resistance to chemical and thermal influences, electrodes, reaction catalysts);
• medical instruments;
• jewelry making.

The richest platinum deposits

The total world reserves in known deposits are about 66 thousand tons. Most of them are located in South Africa (63 thousand tons). Russian deposits are rich in 1.1 thousand tons, American - 0.9 thousand tons, Canadian - 0.3 thousand tons, other countries - 0.7 thousand tons.

In the world

The largest deposits of platinum-bearing ores are located in South Africa. These are the ultramafic rocks of the Paleozoic era in the Bushwell.

Other major world deposits:

• Sudbury (Canada);
• Nevada, California, Wyoming, Alaska (USA);
• Quibdo, Andagoda, Opogodo, Tamana, Kondoto-Iro (Colombia);
• Norway, New Zealand.

In Russia

For the first time on the territory of the Russian Federation, deposits were discovered in the 20s of the XIX century in the Urals Verkh-Isetsky district.

The main deposits of platinum:

• October;
• Talnakhskoye;
• Nizhny Tagil;
• sulfide-copper-nickel in Norilsk, Krasnodar Territory, Fedorov Tundra, Zarechenskoe in the Murmansk Region;
• alluvial deposits in the Khabarovsk Territory (Konder), on Kamchatka (Levtyrinyvayam), on the Lobva River, Vyysko-Isovskoye.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of platinum are due to its physical and chemical properties. Among them, hardness, low thermal conductivity, high density, refractoriness. The metal does not deform when heated, it is resistant to corrosion. It is almost impossible to bend, deform.

Jewelry made of platinum is hypoallergenic, wear-resistant, durable.

The durability and strength of the precious metal is evidenced by the fact that at the end of the 18th century standards of the kilogram and meter were made from it.

Against the background of all these advantages, there is only one drawback. This is the price. The cost of platinum products is much higher than gold ones.

Kinds

Native platinum is classified according to the content of other components in the ore. There is palladium platinum (40% palladium), nickel platinum (3% nickel), rhodium platinum (5% rhodium), cuproplatinum (10-15% copper), ferrous platinum (25% nickel and iron each).

From enriched pure platinum, dimensional, stamped ingots of 999 samples are produced. Due to the high cost, Pt jewelry is usually small and monolithic.

Alloys and samples

Platinum alloys, like the pure element, have a grayish-white hue with a characteristic sheen.

The list indicates what the ligature consists of. For the alloy take one or more of the following components:

• copper;
• rhodium;
• palladium;
• gold;
• cobalt;
• iridium.

Products made of precious metals, including platinum, are subject to mandatory approbation. Affixing the state hallmark confirms the conformity of the alloy to a particular sample.

According to the metric system adopted in Russia for platinum, 850, 900, 950, 999 samples are approved. Stamp - a rectangle with beveled edges, which depicts the profile of a woman in a kokoshnik and the digital designation of the sample.

Sample matching table

The metric system shows how many units of pure precious metal are in 1000 units of the alloy. Carat assay is based on pure metal as 24 units. The formula for converting a metric sample into a carat: sample × 24/100.

Metric	carat
850	20
900	22
950	23
999	24

Where can you buy or sell

Demand in the platinum sales market still exceeds its supply. This is due to the complex extraction of it from the bowels. Ingots, coins made of high purity platinum can be bought in banks. They can also be bought back there (as a rule, with a certificate and receipt). Platinum jewelry, which is made by famous jewelry houses, cannot be found in an ordinary store.

You can sell platinum jewelry or scrap at a pawnshop or buying. The price there will not be the best. Of the benefits - the money will be issued immediately. Thrift stores can sell items at the best price, but it may take a day. Money will be given to the seller only after the sale of the goods.

A favorable price can be obtained by selling at auctions, including on the Internet. But an inexperienced seller in pursuit of profit can run into scammers.

I advise you to find collectors. They will evaluate the value of the product not only in grams, but also taking into account its artistic, historical, jewelry value. In this case, you can sell the jewelry at a price as close as possible to the market price.

How much does 1 gram cost today

Prices per ounce of the precious metal are set twice a day on the London Stock Exchange. The figure is taken as a basis by the central banks of world countries, including the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. Below is a live chart and .

Platinum | Rub | 1 Gram

Platinum | USD | 1 Gram

Scrap price

All products accepted by the pawnshop are valued as scrap. The cost of platinum scrap, of course, is lower than the market value - by about 15-20%. Some pawnshops price jewelry by category. For high-quality things, a large amount per gram is issued.

How to distinguish a fake

The silvery luster of platinum resembles silver. Let's figure out how not to fall for scammers and distinguish a real platinum jewelry from a fake.

The element does not react to alkalis and acids. There is a simple homemade rotten egg test that contains hydrogen sulfide. By what color the product will become, you can determine what is in front of you. Silver will turn black, platinum will not.

The old-fashioned biting method will help determine how soft the metal is in front of you. Platinum alloys are very hard, they do not leave traces of deformation. Of course, not every buyer will risk their teeth. And the sellers are not happy with this definition of authenticity.

A distinctive characteristic of platinum is its low thermal conductivity. When heated, heat spreads more slowly than other metals.

I advise you to pay attention to the stigma. Images, numbers, contours of the print must be clear, without deformation. If you have doubts about the authenticity of a precious metal, you can contact a specialist - a jeweler or an appraiser at a pawnshop.

It is always better to buy jewelry in large specialized stores that have documents and value their reputation.

Resist the urge to buy platinum on the cheap. . It cannot be worth a little more than silver or like gold. Due to the high cost of raw materials, platinum jewelry is made small in size. They are molded, not blown.

Jewelry should be removed before doing homework, especially if there is going to be contact with aggressive cleaning agents. The surface of the decoration may fade. Store platinum separately from other precious metals.

Minor dirt is removed by soaking the jewelry in soapy water. We advise you to entrust things encrusted with precious stones to a professional. This service is provided in jewelry workshops.

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.

Pt stocks are currently 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 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.

Light silvery shade, shiny and does not tarnish when exposed to air. In addition, platinum is a very refractory, durable and at the same time malleable metal, however, this is common to many platinoids. Platinum is a rather rare and valuable metal, found in the earth's crust much less frequently than, for example, gold or silver. By the way, it got its name thanks to the latter. In Spanish, "plata" is silver, and "platina" is similar to silver.

The date of discovery of platinum is not exactly known, as it was discovered by the Incas in South America. In Europe, the first mention of platinum (as an unknown metal that cannot be melted - since its melting point is almost 1770 degrees Celsius) appears in the 16th century thanks to the conquests of the Spanish conquistadors. However, regular deliveries of platinum to Western Europe from South America improved only in the 17th-18th centuries. Officially, among European scientists, it began to be considered a new metal only in 1789, after the publication by the French chemist Lavoisier of his List of Simple Substances.

Pure, without foreign impurities, platinum was extracted from platinum ore as early as 1803 by the British scientist William Wollaston. At the same time, he simultaneously discovered two more platinoids (platinum group metals) from the same ore - palladium and rhodium. Interestingly, at the same time, Wollaston was originally a doctor who became interested in the production of medical utensils and tools from platinum - because of its bactericidal properties and incredible resistance to oxidizing agents. It was he who first discovered that the only substances that can affect platinum in natural conditions are “aqua regia” (a mixture of concentrated hydrochloric and sulfuric, or nitric acid), as well as liquid bromine.

Deposit and mining of platinum.

First platinum deposit discovered many centuries ago by the Inca tribes in South America, and until the 19th century it was the only known source of platinum in the world. In 1819, platinum was discovered in the Russian Empire, in what is now the Krasnoyarsk Territory in Siberia. For a long time, this noble metal was not identified and was referred to as " White gold or simply "new Siberian metal". Full-fledged mining of platinum in Russia began already by the end of the first half of the 19th century - with the invention by Russian scientists of that time of a new technique for forging platinum in a hot state.

In our time, South American deposits in the Andes have begun to deplete and the main promising areas platinum mining located on the territory of only five states:

• Russia (Urals and Siberia);
• China;
• Zimbabwe.

In the 19th and at the very beginning of the 20th century, the Russian Empire became the main supplier of platinum to the world market - from 90 to 95 percent of all supplies of platinum. This continued until this noble metal was overvalued and acquired strategic importance. However, although this happened in the second half of the 19th century (at that time all issued platinum coins in Russia were withdrawn from circulation during the reign of Paul I and Nicholas I), platinum supplies to Europe continued under Alexander II. Already in the days of the Soviet Union, all data on the extraction of platinum were strictly classified, and they remain so to this day - already in the Russian Federation. Therefore, the rating of Russia as the 3rd or 4th country according to platinum mining in the world, is very conditional. And no one knows even approximately how much platinum is stored in the strategic reserves of the Russian Federation.

At the moment, it is only known for certain that the leader in platinum mining in Russia is the state-owned company Norilsk Nickel. The officially published production of this metal in the 2000s averaged about 20-25 tons of platinum per year. At the same time, South Africa supplies the international market with about 150 tons per year. Already in our time, a new platinum deposit was discovered in the Khabarovsk Territory (a rather large deposit), but its official production is only 3 to 4 tons per year.

Currently discovered deposits platinum in the world suggest a potential production of about 80 thousand tons of this metal. Most of them are located in South Africa (more than 87 percent). In Russia - more than 8%. And in the States - up to 3%. Again, this is official published data. Do not forget that not every country wants to disclose the contents of its strategic storage of precious metals and mining potential.

Application of platinum.

Platinum, like most platinoids, has the same uses:

• jewelry industry;
• dentistry;
• chemical industry (due to catalytic properties);
• electronics and electrical engineering;
• medicine (dishes and tools);
• pharmaceuticals (drugs, mainly oncological);
• astronautics (almost eternal soldering of platinum contacts does not require repair);
• production of lasers (platinum is part of most mirror elements);
• electroplating (for example, non-corrosive parts of submarines);
• production of thermometers.

Prices and dynamics of prices for platinum.

Initially platinum price(when it was brought to Europe in the 17th century) was very low. Despite the beauty of the new metal, it could not be melted down and used properly anywhere. At the beginning of the 18th century, when technology allowed it to be melted, counterfeiters began to use platinum to counterfeit gold Spanish reals. Then the Spanish king seized almost all of the platinum and solemnly flooded it in the Mediterranean Sea, and prohibited further deliveries.

All this time platinum price did not exceed half the price of silver.

With the development of new technologies at the beginning of the 19th century and with the isolation of pure platinum by Wollaston, platinum began to be used in various industries, and its price reached that of gold.

In the twentieth century, after realizing the advantages of platinum in physical and chemical properties compared to gold, its price continued to rise. Demand for platinum as a high-quality chemical catalyst increased in the 1970s, when the world boom in the automotive industry began. This noble metal was used to purify exhaust gases (usually in an alloy with other platinoids). It was then that chemists discovered that in a finely dispersed state (i.e., atomized form), platinum actively interacts with the hydrogen component (CH) of the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines.

The financial downturns and crises of the 2000s and 2010s affected demand and platinum price dynamics. During this period (especially in the 2000s), platinum prices fell below a thousand dollars (almost $900) per troy ounce of the precious metal. In the last 10 years, the price of an ounce of platinum below $1,000 has been considered unprofitable. Therefore, it is not surprising that some of the mining (mainly South African) enterprises that mine platinum have closed. Because of this, there was a certain shortage of "white gold" in the supply-demand ratio of platinum in the 2010s, and its price jumped again. However, the decline in Chinese car production in 2014-2015 caused a new decline in platinum prices.

The average price per ounce of platinum in the first half of 2015 was around $1,100. However, experts have their platinum price forecast. In their opinion, in 2016 the level of the world economy will grow, and China will resume large-scale automobile production, and the price per troy ounce of platinum will exceed at least $1,300, and another platinum metal - palladium - will cost more than $850 per troy ounce.

In addition, the fact that the Russian Federation continues to keep its platinum reserves, means that this metal has growth prospects, and, therefore, deserves attention for long-term investment (or, at least, maintaining its financial resources).

The most underrated of the trio known to all precious metal is platinum. There is nothing surprising in this: the platinum nugget is black and unsightly, and anyone who finds it will step over and move on.

In ores, platinum and gold often accompany each other. However, the gold miners of the past, when smelting gold, simply threw away pieces of nondescript metal. Together with gold and silver, platinum did not melt; under the hammer on the anvil it became harder; in appearance it slightly resembled silver - but dirty, worthless ...

In a word, an unnecessary impurity went to waste. And yes, there was quite a bit of it! So little that European noble metal casters did not even suspect the existence of platinum as a separate element of the Universe until the middle of the ΧVΙΙΙ century. Unlike the Incas...

The intricate history of the precious metal

Modern scientists know about the origin of platinum and platinum group metals from spectrographic observations of large-scale cosmic catastrophes. Heavy metals, including silver, gold, platinum and platinoids -, and - appear in interstellar space as a result of fusion reactions that accompany supernova explosions and collisions of massive old stars.

Atomized stellar substance condenses into dust. Gravitational fluctuations form more or less massive lumps of matter. In different ways, interstellar matter, some of which is noble metals, gets to the surface of the planets. Where it dissipates in the thickness of the crust ...

The processes of erosional destruction of the planet's bedrocks with the re-formation of sedimentary and metamorphic layers allow heavy metals to concentrate in deposits. Rare and not numerous - if we talk about platinum and platinum group metals.

Platinum and platinoids on Earth

There is little platinum in the earth's crust. Only 0.0000005% (five ten millionths of a percent) of the mass of the Earth. That does not prevent industrialists interested in platinum from extracting 200 tons of precious metal annually.

Explored reserves of platinum are estimated at 80,000 tons, with the main deposits located on the territory of five states. South Africa and Zimbabwe, Russia and China, and the United States contain about nine-tenths of the world's platinum reserves. Canada, South America and other countries own small deposits.

However, there are estimates that allow 90% of crude platinum to be attributed to South African mines. Which, of course, indicates not so much the exclusivity of South Africa, but the insufficiency of geological exploration of the bowels of the rest of the Earth.

Natural compounds of platinum

Pure platinum is rarely found in nature. Native platinum is usually a mixture of several metals with a predominance of platinum itself. The most typical of the compounds are defined as minerals.
Polyxene contains from 80 to 88% platinum and about 10% iron. Cuproplatin, in addition to the noble metal, contains up to 14% copper and about the same amount of iron. Nickel platinum (located in vein deposits mixed with iron, copper and nickel) is well known.

It happens that platinum combines with sulfur (the mineral cooperite), and with arsenic (sperrylite), and with antimony. However, much more often natural platinum is found in combination with palladium or iridium. Other metals of the platinum group are present in ores in insignificant, as a rule, concentrations.

Particularly large platinum nuggets have not been found in nature. Not very impressive in appearance, platinum nuggets weighing 5918 g and 7860 g are stored in the Diamond Background of Russia. They were found in the alluvial deposits of Konder (Khabarovsk Territory) and Isovsky mine (Urals).

History of the development of wealth

Encountered in placers since ancient times, platinum was not of interest to Europeans. The peoples of northern Asia acted most practically, using platinum grain as shot or buckshot. However, the South American Inca and Chibcha tribes, who mined a lot of gold and silver in the Andes, treated platinum with great reverence. Not knowing how to properly process the refractory metal, they kept platinum as a gift from the gods, and used it in cult rituals.

The Spaniards, who contemptuously called the new metal “silver”, figured out how to fake gold with the help of platinum. It is very profitable to take platinum at a bargain price (half the price of silver) and add it to a gold alloy. Mixed with gold in relatively small amounts, platinum does not change the color of the alloy. But it allows you to save expensive material!

That is why the Spanish authorities ordered to drown platinum: partly directly in Colombia, partly already in Spain. And they drowned until the Madrid court itself decided to earn extra money by counterfeiting. Looking at the tricks of those in power, naturalists became interested in the new metal, and, after conducting a series of research experiments, first in 1750, and again in 1803, they isolated pure platinum from scattered samples.

It took another 30 years for Julius Scaliger, a chemist from Italy, to provide irrefutable evidence: platinum is a chemical element, and not dirty gold or silver spoiled with impurities. However, Scaliger had predecessors who claimed the same thing 80 years before him - but the science of those years was not very hasty. In fact, recognition of platinum came only in the ΧΙΧ century.

The English engineer William Wollaston (discoverer of rhodium and palladium) suggested making vessels from platinum for the production of concentrated acids. The offer turned out to be sensible, and the demand for the metal increased.

Russia, which at that time had relatively rich deposits of platinum, began minting coins from it ten years after the start of mining the precious metal. There was no practical use for the precious metal in Russia for a long time, and all supplies (more than 16 tons of refined platinum) were sold to England in 1867.

As it happened both before and later, and not only with the Russian rulers, they simply did not consider the potential of their “titmouse in their hands”.

Physical and chemical properties of platinum

In appearance, platinum resembles silver, but is darker and dimmer than it. The color of platinum is characterized as grayish-white; in compounds, the purity of the color decreases. The melting point is high: 1768.3°C. Hardness does not exceed three and a half units according to Mohs. The crystal structure of platinum is cubic. In nature, platinum crystals are found in vein deposits and nuggets.

Platinum is chemically stable, but reacts with hot aqua regia. Dissolves in bromine. When heated, it reacts with a few metals and non-metals. Dissolves molecular hydrogen. Known as an active catalyst for the processes of oxidation and addition of hydrogen. In particular, spongy platinum is capable of provoking the ignition of a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen at low gas temperatures. Before the invention of matches, lighters using this principle were widely produced.

Application of platinum

In modern conditions, the demand for platinum is growing, and its use is intensifying. Until the middle of the last century, at least half of the mined platinum was consumed by jewelers, and a few percent by dental prosthetists and doctors.
Jewelry platinum (especially processed with rhodium) is an excellent material for creating frames for colorless and white stones, pearls, topazes, gems with a subtle color.

Until recently, Japan (now replaced by China) remained the main consumer of platinum jewelry: there, platinum rings are as common as gold jewelry. In China, up to 25 tons of jewelry made of platinum are sold annually.

Growth in demand for jewelry platinum and platinum group metals is also observed in Europe. However, platinum jewelry is not popular in Russia: only 0.1% of the world's platinum jewelry is sold in Russia.

The lion's share (at least 90%) of the mined metal goes into industry. Platinum is used to produce devices for the chemical industry: laboratory glassware and equipment, filters, electrodes. At least half of technical platinum is used for the production of all kinds of catalysts, including automotive ones.

Not without platinum and electrical engineering, and glass production. Platinum or platinum contacts are not afraid of discharge arcs. Platinum dies are used to make fiberglass.

The space industry without the stability of platinum as an electrically conductive, corrosion-resistant and heat-resistant material would hardly have reached today's heights. One of the mass standards is made of an alloy of platinum and iridium: it is a cylinder 39 mm high and also 39 mm in diameter.

Platinum is also used as a bank metal: the cost of platinum is consistently high, the price increase is constant; as an investment object, this noble metal is very profitable!

Unused in the past, today platinum is in demand more than ever. And if humanity either wants to or does not want to send space tractors for hypothetical golden asteroids, then an expedition will be equipped for a celestial body made of platinum without hesitation: the unique properties of the noble metal are so useful.