Noble metals

Noble metals are primarily gold, silver and platinum. They do not undergo corrosion and oxidation, and this distinguishes them from other metals. Their reserves are small, but the products from them are truly unique. Among the noble ones are platinum metals, such as palladium, ruthenium, iridium, rhodium and osmium. Platinum metal is distinguished by its heat resistance, ductility, corrosion resistance, reflectivity and emissivity, as well as thermal and electrical conductivity and high magnetic characteristics. These unique physical and chemical properties are possessed not only by the metals themselves, but also by their compounds and materials based on them: alloys, catalysts, powders, coatings, oxide films. They are indispensable in the chemical and oil refining industry, electronics, electrical engineering, nuclear and rocket engineering, instrument making. These metals provide guaranteed reliability in the operation of computing, as well as measuring and monitoring devices and devices.

All noble metals have the most important qualities that are necessary for the manufacture of various jewelry. These are their properties, such as softness, ductility, plasticity, the ability to fuse with other metals. Because of their high cost, they began to be called precious.

The most expensive precious metal is gold. This is the only one of all metals that has a bright yellow color in its pure form. If it is polished, its luster will be greatly enhanced. Gold can not be oxidized in air, it is resistant to moisture on it. Due to its most valuable property - chemical resistance, gold from the whole group of metals is recognized as the noblest. In the jewelry industry, pure gold forms the basis of precious alloys.

Many prefer noble metals of white color, mainly in jewelry. This metal is silver. In addition to jewelry, silver was used to make cutlery and dishes. Mechanical processing of silver is easy. This metal is viscous, ductile, ductile. It is also characterized by high reflectivity, thermal and electrical conductivity. A significant part of the extracted silver is used in electronics, instrumentation, for coinage, coating of mirrors, in photography. Recently, the field of application of this metal is constantly expanding. To the effect of moisture, silver is not very stable. It takes on a darker shade.

Also noble metals include in their list and platinum - heavy metal and refractory. In nature, there is no platinum in its pure form. It is presented as a natural alloy with other noble metals, such as palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, iridium. Platinum is characterized by a higher hardness than gold and silver. It has little exposure to chemical attack. Platinum high-grade alloy is widely used in jewelry production.

The platinum group includes palladium. Its chemical properties are below platinum. It has a beautiful, almost white color. Palladium is the lightest, flexible, low-melting and plastic of platinum group metals. It can easily roll and stretch into a wire. Palladium does not tarnish and can be polished. It is contained in the composition of low-grade gold to increase its anti-corrosion properties.

The group of platinum metals includes rhodium, reminiscent of its bluish-white color, aluminum. This metal is hard, brittle. He has a high reflectivity. Rhodium is considered a chemically resistant metal. This metal is resistant to the effects of oxygen, chlorine, sulfur, phosphorus. The chemical and physical properties of rhodium are used to coat products made of gold and silver.

Ruthenium is a refractory metal. Fragility and firmness, he has the same as rhodium. Its use is found in instrumentation, in small quantities in platinum alloys.

One of the metals of the platinum group is iridium, the characteristic of which is similar to that of ruthenium and rhodium. Of all the metals, it is one of the most persistent in the chemical sense. It is actively used in the chemical industry.

The last representative of platinum metals is osmium. It is not subject to mechanical treatment, it is insoluble in acids. In alloys, osmium is added to improve their chemical stability and hardness.