Platinum

44
Ru
Ruthenium 		45
Rh
Rhodium 		46
Pd
Palladium 		47
Ag
Silver
76
Os
Osmium 		77
Ir
Iridium 		78
Pt
Platinum		 79
Au
Gold

Platinum is one of a family of 6 metals which share similar physical and chemical properties. They are ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum.


The Spaniards named the metal platina ("little silver") when they first encountered it in Colombia. They regarded platinum as an unwanted impurity in the silver they were mining.They were unable to melt it because of its very high melting point ( 1768C )

Watchmakers highly appreciate unique properties of platinum as it neither tarnishes nor wears out .

Vacheron Constantin started using platinum in watch production as early as in 1820. Today the company has a whole collection of platinum timepieces

platinum American Eagles are legal tender US coins
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