Antonio de Ulloa discovered platinum in South America in 1735 and by Wood in 1741. Platinum is a silver-white metal that holds even more value then gold. Its atomic number is 78 and its mass is 195.08. It is also one of the heaviest metals. It is a transition metal and its electron configuration is [Xe ]6s14f145d9. This element has very unique properties, which make it valuable. First of all, it is very easily shaped. It can …showed first 75 words of 207 total…

…showed last 75 words of 207 total…same group of metals. The metal does not oxidize in air at any temperature. However, halogens, cyanides, sulfur, and caustic alkalis corrode it. Platinum resistance wires are used for constructing high-temperature elective furnaces. The metal is used for coating missile nose cones, jet engine fuel nossles, jewellry, thermocouple elements, electrical contacts, corrosion-resistant apparatus, in dentistry, sealed electrodes in glass systems, and so on. Platinum is an excellent catalyst, such as in catalytic converters for cars.