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Platinum (pronounced /'plæt?n?m/) is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is in Group 10 of the periodic table of elements. A heavy, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal, platinum is resistant to corrosion and occurs in some nickel and copper ores along with some native deposits. Platinum is used in jewelry, laboratory equipment, electrical contacts, dentistry, and automobile emissions control devices. Platinum bullion has the ISO currency code of XPT. As of November 28th, 2008, Platinum was worth $868.00 per troy ounce (approximately $27.91 per gram).^[1]

As a pure metal, platinum is silvery-white in appearance, lustrous, ductile, and malleable.^[2] It does not oxidize at any temperature, though it is corroded by halogens, cyanides, sulfur, and caustic alkalis. Platinum is insoluble in hydrochloric and nitric acid, though it does dissolve in aqua regia to form chloroplatinic acid, H₂PtCl₆.^[3]

Platinum's wear - and tarnish-resistance characteristics are well suited for making fine jewelry. Platinum is more precious than gold or silver. The price of platinum changes along with its supply and demand. For instance 1 gram of platinum was valued at 33 dollars in early 2008. During periods of sustained economic stability and growth, the price of platinum tends to be as much as twice as the price of gold, whereas, during periods of economic uncertainty^[4], the price of platinum tends to decrease due to reduced demand, falling below the price of gold, partly due to increased gold prices. In the 18th century, platinum's rarity made King Louis XV of France declare it the only metal fit for a king.^[5] Platinum possesses high resistance to chemical attack, excellent high-temperature characteristics, and stable electrical properties. All these properties have been exploited for industrial applications.

Common oxidation states of platinum include +2, and +4. The +1 and +3 oxidation states are less common, and are often stabilized by metal bonding in bimetallic (or polymetallic) species.

Platinum Subcategories Platinum Articles HOW TO BUY UNIQUE WEDDING BANDS? PLATINUM OR GOLD OR TITANIUM by Sanjeev Prakash Apr 07, 2008 wedding bands in platinum, 14K Gold White Yellow Gold, 18K Gold White Yellow Gold, Titanium & Silver. We also craft bands in platinum and 18k yellow gold and 24k yellow gold combinations. Wedding Band Style: Tradional or Unique Designer? We ...