Platinum

Platinum is a precious metal and is represented with the platinum symbol, Pt. The word Platinum comes from the Spanish word "Platina." Platina means Silver. It is one of the rarest elements found in the earth's crust with an estimated abundance of 5 μg/kg. Platinum can conduct electricity. Platinum, along with rhodium, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium, forms a group of elements called platinum group metals (PGM). If you are wondering Who discovered Platinum, it was discovered by Antonio de Ulloa in 1735.

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This article contains the uses of platinum, its electronic configuration, atomic number, and properties of platinum. The frequently asked questions at the end of this article will help you if you incur any doubts while going through the same.

Platinum is a dense highly unreactive malleable silverish white chemical element with the symbol Pt. The atomic number of platinum is 78. The plant's name is derived from the Spanish Platina which is a root word of Plata "silver". Platinum is one of the rarest elements but a highly desired and valuable metal. The shell structure of platinum is 2.8. 18.32. 17.1. 

Platinum Atomic Number

Platinum element belongs to group 10 of the periodic table of elements. Platinum is one of the transition metals. The atomic number of Platinum is 78, and the atomic mass of Platinum is 195.094 g/mol. The platinum melting point is 1768.3° C, and the Boiling point is 3825 ° C. It is solid at room temperature. Platinum also has some health effects. If spilled on the skin, they can cause rashes and irritation. If inhaled, it can cause Shortness of breath, sneezing, and irritation in the nose. Platinum as a metal won't cause major health issues, but Platinum salt is very dangerous. It may cause cancer, hearing problems, organ damage like intestine and kidney, etc.

Electronic Configuration of Platinum

If we follow the Aufbau principle the electronic configuration of Pt will be \[1s^{2} 2s^{2} p^{6} 3s^{2} p^{6} d^{10} 4s^{2} p^{6} d^{10} f^{14} 5s^{2} p^{6} d^{8} 6s^{2}\] but Pt has an exception. But a rule of thumb says, half filled shells are more stable. So in that case Pt will have an electronic configuration of \[1s^{2} 2s^{2} p^{6} 3s^{2} p^{6} d^{10} 4s^{2} p^{6} d^{10} f^{14} 5s^{2} p^{6} d^{9} 6s^{1}\]. Most common oxidation states of the Platinum are +2 and +4. +1 and +3 are very less common. 

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Properties of Platinum

Following are the properties of Platinum:-

• Atomic number: 78

• Atomic symbol: Pt

• Atomic weight: 195.1

• Density: 12.4 ounces per cubic inch

• Phase at room temperature: solid

• Melting point: 3,215.1 degrees, Fahrenheit (1,768.4°C)

• Boiling point: 6,917 F (3,825°C)

• Van Der Waals radius: 0.138 nm

• Ionic radius: 0.096 nm (+2)

• Isotopes: 13

• Electronic shell: \[ [Xe] 4f^{14} 5d^{9} 6s^{1}\]

• The energy of first ionization: \[867 kJ.mol^{-1}\]

• The energy of second ionization: \[1788 kJ.mol^{-1}\]

• Discovered by: Julius Scaliger in 1735

• The electronic configuration of PT :

• \[ [Xe] 4f^{14} 5d^{9} 6s^{1}\] 

Or

• \[1s^{2} 2s^{2} 2p^{6} 3s^{2} 3p^{6} 3d^{10} 4s^{2} 4p^{6} 4d^{10} 5s^{2} 5p^{6} 4f^{14} 5d^{9} 6s^{1}\]

Physical Properties:

• Platinum is heavy, soft, malleable, and ductile.

• It is stable at high temperatures and has excellent resistance against corrosion.

• Platinum is the second most ductile metal after gold. 

• Platinum is one of the densest metals with a density of 21.45 grams per cubic centimeter.

Chemical Properties:

• Platinum is regarded as a noble metal, which makes it chemically stable.

• It doesn't get tarnished in the air because it doesn't react with the oxygen present in the air.

• It is also resistant to acid attacks.

• It is corroded by halogens, cyanides, sulfur, and alkalis.

• Platinum absorbs high quantities of Hydrogen gas at high temperatures, just like a sponge soaks water, which is an unusual property of Platinum.

• Platinum shows a strong tendency to form complex ions. The most common one is Pt(I), which has a planar structure and is diamagnetic.

Uses of Platinum

• Platinum is used for jewelry because it is chemically unreactive and soft.

• It is used in dental fillings and surgical tools because of its unreactivity.

• Platinum is used in lasers and in the making of photographic materials.

• The metal is used as catalysts for improving the efficiency of fuel cells.

• Platinum is used in coatings of razors.

• An alloy of Platinum, along with Cobalt, is used for making strong permanent magnets.

• It is used as a catalyst in the production of Nitric acid, Benzene, and Silicone.

• Platinum is extensively used especially in the petroleum industry as it is an excellent catalyst that plays an important role in extracting gasoline for making high octane fuels.

• Platinum is highly valued for its purity and beauty. The strength, hardness, resistance, and color of this metal are the reason for it being highly in demand for jewelry making. The flexibility of this metal is an important characteristic for jewelry designers.

• Platinum is also used in fiber optic cables and hard disk drive coating.

• Platinum is also used in explosives and fertilizers as gauze for converting ammonia to nitric acid.

• Platinum is also used in glassmaking equipment and any manufacturing of fiberglass.

• Platinum is used in applications such as pacemakers, hard disks, and fertilizer manufacture.

• Through Platinum future equities investors also gain exposure. They can also buy coins, bars, Exchange Traded Funds(ETFs).

Production of Platinum Metal

Platinum Ores:

Platinum is usually extracted from Sperrylite and Cooperite, the two Platinum-containing ores. It is also found in the native state as well.

How is It Extracted?

1. The ore is crushed, and the Froth-Flotation process is done. During Flotation, the air is passed through the ore-water mixture, also called Slurry. The Platinum particle is chemically attached to the oxygen rise up to the surface in a froth, and then it is skimmed off for refining it further.

2.  In the next step, it is dried up and then heated up to 1500° C in an electric furnace, and then air is blown through it to remove iron and Sulfur impurities. 

3. Aqua regia is then used to dissolve platinum metal from the mineral concentrate by creating chlorine that attaches to Platinum to form chloroplatinic acid. 

4. Finally, the ammonium chloride is used to change the chloroplatinic acid to ammonium hexachloroplatinate, which can then be burned to develop the pure platinum metal.

Fun Facts About Platinum

1. The extraction of Platinum is a very intensive process in terms of capital and labor. For the production of barely 31 g of Pure Platinum, we need 7 to 11 tons of Platinum ore and a time of around six months.

2. Platinum and Platinum alloys were used to make Platinum hunk, which is used as an international standard for measuring a Kilogram. This cylinder weighs about 1 Kg (2.2 lbs).

3. Platinum is the least reactive metal known to humankind.

4. Even a 1 g of Platinum can stretch into a 2000 meter long wire.

5. Platinum is widely used as a catalyst in chemical reactions. 

6. There are 6 naturally occurring isotopes of Platinum, 190Pt (0.01%), 192Pt (0.78%), 194Pt (33.0%), 195Pt (33.8%), 196Pt (25.2%) and 198Pt (7.2%).