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Palladium (pronounced /p?'le?di?m/) is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal that was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, who named it palladium after the asteroid Pallas, which in turn, was named after the epithet of the Greek goddess Athena, acquired by her when she slew the giant Pallas. The symbol for palladium is Pd, and its atomic number is 46. Palladium, along with platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium form a group of elements referred to as the platinum group metals (PGMs). Platinum group metals share similar chemical properties, but palladium has the lowest melting point and is the least dense of these precious metals.[1] When palladium is at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, it can absorb up to 900 times its own volume of hydrogen, which makes palladium an efficient and safe storage medium for hydrogen and hydrogen isotopes. Palladium is also tarnish resistant, electrically stable and resistant to chemical erosion as well as intense heat. The unique properties of palladium and other platinum group metals account for their widespread use. One in four goods manufactured today either contain platinum group metals or had platinum group metals play a key role during their manufacturing process,[2]. Over half of the supply of palladium and its sister metal platinum goes into catalytic converters, which convert up to 90% of harmful gases from auto exhaust (hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide) into less harmful substances (nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor). Palladium’s precious metal qualities and appearance generate significant consumption in the luxury jewelry market. Palladium is found in many electronics including computers, mobile phones, multi-layer ceramic capacitors, component plating, low voltage electrical contacts, and SED/OLED/LCD televisions. Palladium is also used in dentistry, medicine, hydrogen purification, chemical applications, groundwater treatment. Palladium plays a key role in the technology used for fuel cells, which combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat and water. Palladium bullion has ISO currency codes of XPD and 964. Palladium is one of only four metals to have such codes, the others being gold, silver and platinum.
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Palladium Subcategories
Palladium Articles
Finding Mens Gold Wedding Rings
by Jonathan Blocker
Apr 16, 2008
Finding mens gold wedding rings. The New Varieties of Diamond Wedding Rings
There was a time – not very long ago – when diamond wedding rings
Ladies Watches found online
by Jonathan Blocker
Apr 13, 2008
Ladies watches found online
Jewelry gifts are appropriate for many different occasions; some, like designer watches, make excellent all-or-any occasion gifts, whereas...
Tungsten carbide wedding rings
by Jonathan Blocker
Mar 31, 2008
Tungsten carbide wedding rings, Celtic Jewelry – Old Meets New
Tungsten rings and jewelry made palladium are cutting edge. Unlike traditional gold and silver rings which are relatively soft, tungsten rings...
Finding Celtic knot engagement rings
by Jonathan Blocker
Mar 31, 2008
Celtic knot engagement rings – Unity in Opposites
If you treasure and appreciate traditions of the past and find the ornate filigrees of Edwardian style attractive – yet understand the superiority of moder...
Celtic knot engagement rings
by Jonathan Blocker
Mar 31, 2008
Rings – The Eternal Gift
Tacori engagement rings are sine pares when it comes to quality wedding jewelry. Palladium wedding rings and tungsten carbide rings blend Space-Age quality and durability with Edwardian charm and Art-Deco style in the...
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