Platinum
Introduction
Platinum is one of the much-priced metals. It is increasingly rare and possesses various physical attributes, one being, silvery-white with respect to color. The name “Platinum” is derived from the Spanish word “platina” which means ‘silver. It is also interesting to note that the name is related to the place and time of discovery of the element. The discovery of platinum dates back to the eighteenth century in Latin America. It was described as a strange metal discovered in the midst of Mexico and Panama, and that it could not be melted by fire (Hunt & Lever 127). However, it has, in the recent times, been put to substantial use in various industrial applications. Some of the countries that contribute to its exportation include South Africa, Russia, Zimbabwe, Canada and the United States of America. Even so, South Africa is the largest producer contributing a staggering seventy percent of the world’s total, followed distantly by Russia with an export percentage that stands at thirteen (Young & Amos 689). Platinum is very rare considering that it is the seventy-second most common element. The only naturally occurring elements are ninety-four in number thus making it one of the most expensive metals. The market value of platinum currently stands at an estimated thirty thousand dollars to fifty thousand dollars for a kilogram. The following discussion gives a detailed description of platinum including its chemical formula, molar mass, physical state, appearance and also its uses.