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Understanding the element
Platinum (Pt) is chemical element 78. It belongs to the transition metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.
Where do we encounter it?
In practice, it turns up most often in catalysts, jewellery and medical applications.
catalystsjewellerymedical applications
Standard atomic weight195.084(9)
What its position in the table tells us
Platinum sits in period 6, group 10 and the D block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.
Worth remembering
Platinum has a characteristic place in the periodic table that helps explain both its chemistry and its practical uses
Platinum has a characteristic place in the periodic table that helps explain both its chemistry and its practical uses