In ancient times, humanity knew about the existence of seven precious metalsassociated with the planets of the solar system. Some of them, according to people, possess magic power and extraordinary properties. For example, precious metals shine outdoors and even after a long stay in water, and also not fear of strong alkalis, acids and high temperatures. For such characteristics, they are considered noble.
Precious metals are always expensive expensive, and the more there were jewels in a person, the more influential he was considered richer.
It is precisely because of the high cost, limited reserves and the complexity of production, these elements were painted precious.
Initially noble was considered only two metal - gold and silver. In the XVIII century, this list in reference books expanded platinum and elements related to the platinum group.
Today, eight elements are considered for noble metals. They are used in different spheres. The precious metals include gold and platinum, silver and palladium, as well as platinum elements: rhodium and osmium, iridium and ruthenium.
It is still recognized by noble - techneets, but due to the fact that the metal radioactive, he did not enter the general list.
And today, the precious metals include isotopes that scientists have created artificially. The most expensive of them - California-252, and the most demanded Osmium-187. Detailed information about these precious metals can be obtained in a specialized directory.
Gold
This is the most valuable and most common gem metal that references mention. It happens in the form of nuggets, sand, ore impurities and combinations with other chemical elements (electro).
Gold is characterized by unique properties that allow you to distinguish it from other elements. It has low resistance, so it has good electrical conductivity and greater thermal conductivity. Gold is plastic, so it is amenable to all types of processing. It is dense (19.32 g / cm3) and because of this he has heavy weight. For strength and resistance to aggressive substances, gold is inferior to many elements. In the Mendeleev Gold Table (AU) is located in 79 locations. The metal is characterized by yellow, and the melting point is 1064c. This element can dissolve in nitric and chlorine acids.
Silver
This is a gem metal shiny white. In the Mendeleev table it is located in 47 locations. We produce silver from ore, which contains less than 50% of the precious metallol.
Silver (AG) Soft (10.5 g / cm3 density) and plastic, therefore, it is amenable to all types of processing, as well as it is gradually oxidized in air.
Silver is exposed to aggressive substances, resulting in black. It has a small electrical resistance, so it has good electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity. And also silver has a good reflective ability. Melting temperature of silver - 961.9s.
Platinum
Second place in value occupies platinum (PT). It is contained as impurities in the ores of other metals. For the first time they learned about it during the time when Columbus opened America. The process of obtaining it is time consuming and costly. The main feature of platinum is high resistance to aggressive substances, so it is not afraid of acids. Even in the process of incandescent, it does not oxidize and does not change natural white color.
In the Mendeleev Platinum table takes 78th place. It has an increased density (21.45 g / cm3), plasticity and increased refractory (melted at 1772c).
Detailed information about the dragmetal can be obtained in a specialized directory.
Palladium
According to reference books, palladium (PD) - light metal, its density is 12.02 g / m3. It is contained as an admixture of copper and nickel ores, which makes it the most affordable among the other elements of the platinum group.
The main features of palladium are: plasticity, corrosion resistance, hydrogen absorption. Melting point 1552c. The Palladium's Mendeleev table is located at 46th place. Metal is processed and polished and retains its white color for a long time.
Rhodium
According to the majority, gold is the most expensive and noble metal. This is not the case, because there are even more expensive elements, for example, rhodium (Rh). Rodia silver color, with blue tump. It is a refractory (melting at 1960s). The price of Gram Rhodium ranges from 200 to $ 230, so it is used where the remaining elements cannot cope with the task. High price Rhodium formed due to the fact that this element is very rare.
This metal has good resistance to aggressive substances. The density of the birth of 12.42 g / m3 is less than that of the remaining elements of the platinum group. They most often cover other materials to increase their operational characteristics, because rhodium has a good reflective ability, not afraid of water and acids. According to reference books, only alkaline mixtures of cyanides can dissolve rhodium.
Ruthenium
Ruthenies (RU) were named after Russia, since it was here that it was opened. Ruthenium refers to rare items. Metal has a large refractory (melting at 2950c), chemical stability, hardness and other valuable characteristics. In addition, ruthenium has excellent catalytic properties. The main disadvantage is fragility.
The Mendeleev Ruthenium table houses at 44th place. This metal is peculiar white color with silver tint, so it is very similar to platinum.
Iridium
This is a dense heavy metal (22.42 g / m3). In addition, it has a high hardness, because of what problems arise with its processing. In nature, Iridium is very rare. It is very durable, but at the same time fragile.
The Mendeleev Iridium Table (IR) is located in 77th place. The characteristic differences between Iridia is silver-white color with a gray tint and high refractory (melting at 2450c). Does not be affected by aggressive substances.
Osmium
Osmia (OS) is the most severe and most fragile element. It has silver-white color, and its density is 22.48g / m3. In addition, the osmium is solid and the most refractory (melts at 3047c), which is its main advantages. All this in general makes the Osm region difficult to material. In the Mendeleev Table, the Osmis takes 76 lines.
This element is very rare, not found in its pure form. The rarity is the main reason for the high cost of osmium, as a result of which it is used very little. More information about the rare metal can be found from the directory.
Use of use
Electrical engineering
The unique properties of noble metals allow you to protect electrical contacts from oxidation and burnout, which makes them reliable and trouble-free when used in electrical engineering. The alloys of many precious metals are used in high-precision devices and in electronics. Silver salts (silver iodide, silver bromide, silver chloride) are used in the manufacture of photosensitive elements. Solders from these precious elements are used in the manufacture of responsible electrical devices, where strength and reliability are required.
Many rare elements are used in the production of heating elements, thermocouples, etc.
Jewelry industry
All noble alloys use jewelers. Of them make elegant earrings and beautiful rings, charming bracelets and chains, crosses and cigarette, rims for glasses and other products. Jewelers with the help of adding certain metals to alloys to achieve an increase in the operational properties of jewelry.
What are precious metals for jewelers? Jewelers appreciate not only the beautiful gloss and color of materials, but unique properties precious metals. In particular, the fact that they almost do not react with the human body, as a result of which, mainly do not cause allergies and skin diseases.
In addition, noble metals in the form of jewelry are long delight of their owners and are often inherited from generation to generation.
Chemistry
Properties of precious alloys, such as resistance to aggressive substances and catalytic abilities, make them indispensable in chemistry. Of them make special equipment and dishes for alkalis and acids. Due to the unique catalytic properties, some of these elements are used in the production of various substances (gasoline, aromatic substances, etc.).
Automotive
Catalysts are manufactured for gases exhaust systems. Noble metals, which are used in the manufacture of automotive parts, make it possible to effectively neutralize harmful chemical compounds. For such purposes, mainly use Rhodes, platinum and palladium.
Medicine
Noble metals are used in the production of surgical and other tools, a variety of parts for equipment. And some metals are used in dentistry for the manufacture of prostheses. Many compounds of these precious elements are included in the composition medicinal preparationsWhat can be clarified in the Drug Directory.
Space
Precious alloys are necessary for the construction of spacecraft, since only they can provide their reliability and reliability, and it is precisely it can cope with different overloads.
Glass industry
Precious materials found the use in the glass industry, in particular, made of glass cooking containers. They are used in mirrors for lasers.
Investments in which noble metals are now used. Our ancestors mainly from these metals did money and decorations, but today the applications of these materials increase every day.
Banking sphere
Noble metals, in particular, gold and silver in ancient times used in the manufacture of money. Silver gradually lost the relevance.
Today, coins are still made of precious elements, and investment banking ingots are poured out of them. This allows people to incorporate their capital, since the usual currency is constantly depreciated, and ingots and coins are always in price. Today, everyone can invest their accumulations into the highest sample precales. In addition, today many financial organizations offer citizens to open special metal bills.
Making investments in noble elements is very profitable, since in a long run, the owner can get an impressive profit. Metal accounts have one drawback - this is the lack of contribution insurance, which promises the Bank's client a big risk. In conclusion, we give a list of investment precious metals:
The list presents the most valuable and expensive precious metals. As gold and platinum turned out, although they take a worthy place among noble metals, are still not the most expensive. But first things first.
First of all, it is necessary to divide the cost of natural metals, which are mainly represented in the market, and so-called isotopes - metals obtained in special laboratories. Prices here differ in thousands, or even ten thousand times.
California-252.
To begin with, we understand with natural precious metals.
1. Rodi.
1. Rodi. Opened in 1803. World reserves of rhodium are assessed in just a few tons, and the annual production is measured by hundreds of kilograms. Rhodium - so expensive metal that most often used only in areas where it is completely indispensable. 98% of Rhodium goes to the production of automotive catalysts. Per last years The need for Rhodia grew 10-13 times. The high cost of the metal forced to look for equivalent substitutes that they do in the USA, Japan and other developed countries.
At the same time, mining rhodium is growing. South Africa gives almost two thirds of this metal, it is also mined in the Urals, in Polar, and in Norilsk.
The metal for color (silver with a light blue tint) and gloss reminds aluminum, but, compared to it, is much more solid, it is resistant to oxidation and exposure to high temperatures.
2. Platinum.
2. Platinum was known in ancient Egypt, Greece, Ethiopia and South America. At first, Platina was considered white gold, but could not find applications due to the difficulty of processing. The first platinum applied counterfeiters, as the cheap, sufficiently heavy (compared to silver and gold) metal with high density could be ascended by coins.
Only in the middle of the XVIII century. Platinum was recognized as an independent metal. In its pure form, it does not exist in nature. The native platinum is usually a natural alloy with other noble (palladium, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium) and non-financial (iron, copper, nickel, lead, silicon) metals. To obtain it, the nugget is heated in boilers with "royal vodka" (a mixture of nitrogen and hydrochloric acid) and then "bring" with numerous chemical reactions, heating and melting.
The largest platinum - South Africa.
3. Gold.
3. Gold is the main precious metal recognized as worldwide from ancient times. Gold as if the nature itself was created for chasing coins and jewelry production: it is found only in its pure form, plastic and resistant to corrosion, uniformly, compact, in short, is the perfect, in some sense, metal. Gold is also the mobby metal. Of 1 gram, you can pull a wire of 2.4 km long.
In its chemical resistance and mechanical strength, gold is inferior to most platinoids, but as the best conductor is indispensably like material for electrical contacts. Therefore, in microelectronics, gold conductors and galvanic coatings with gold contact surfaces, connector, printed circuit boards are used very widely. Gold is used as a target in nuclear studies, as a coating mirrors operating in the far infrared range, as a special shell in the neutron bomb, etc.
The largest gold-groovers are: South Africa, USA and Australia.
4. Osmia.
4. Osmia One of the most dense elements on Earth, it is a bluish-silver color and was opened in 1803 by Smithson Tennant. He also discovered Iridium (No. 5 in our list). So far, the dispute is not allowed about which of these metals is heavier (osmium or iridium).
A rare osmium, as a rule, is found in the ores of other metals of the platinum group, it is mined in some regions of Russia, North and South America. The price of it on average is 12,700 dollars per kilogram.
This very hard metal has an extremely high melting point, so it is not so easy to handle it. For the most part, the osmium is used to harden alloys from platinum in electrical contacts, fibers and for other purposes. It is worth noting that there are dangers associated with the processing of osmium, since it highlights toxic oxides that can provoke the appearance of irritation on the skin and damage the eyes.
Osmia is very little in the earth's crust, it is extremely scattered and therefore roads. Because of this, the osmium is used only where with its low costs you can get a significant effect. The United States, for example, is imported for a year a little more than 100 kilograms Osmia, mainly for the production of medicine - Cortisone. Very a bit of osmium consumes the chemical industry for the manufacture of catalysts.
5. Iridium.
5. This metal is definitely the most extreme member of the platinum group. It is white, has an amazingly high melting point, is one of the tight elements and the most resistant to corrosion metal. Water, air, acids have no real impact on iridium.
Because of its properties, it is extremely difficult and more difficult to be processed. Its part of it supplies South Africa, it is mined from platinum ores and acts as a by-product of nickel production. Its average price per kilogram is $ 13548. His unique features allow this solid metal to contribute to achievements in the field of medicine, electronics, automotive industry. Even jewelers are trying to use Iridium in some of their exclusive creations.
It is also used for the manufacture of electrocontacts, surgical instruments, accurate chemical scales. From Iridia make the tips of feathers expensive fans. Iridium alloys with platinum are used in biomedicine and aerospace technology. For the year in the world a little more than a ton of iridium is spent. Two thirds absorbs the chemical industry, the remaining iridium is used in various catalytic processes, in jewelry and dental alloys, as well as for the production of crucible and combat lasers. This platinum metal comes almost entirely from South Africa.
6. Ruthenium.
6. Ruthenium, bright gray metal, was opened in 1844 by Russian scientist Karl Caracus. This member of the platinum group retains many characteristics of its "colleagues", including hardness, rarity and resistance to the effects of external elements. At the same time, rutments melts at 800 degrees Celsius.
Ruthenium is located in similar ores of the platinum group in the regions of Russia, North and South America, Canada. Prices for this metal vary, on average it costs $ 13548 per kilogram (420 per troy ounce).
After the complex chemical processing process, the metal can be selected and used for various purposes. It is added to the platinum and palladium alloy in order to increase the hardness (in jewelry) and for better resistance (with aggressive components, especially with titanium). Ruthenium also became very popular in the field of electronics, as a way to improve the efficiency of electrical contacts.
7. Palladium.
7. In 1803, William Hyde Wollaston (William Hyde Wollaston) found a way to separate Palladia from the surrounding platinum ores. This grayish white precious metal is valued for its rarity, plasticity, resistance to high temperatures, and also due to the ability to absorb a large amount of hydrogen at room temperature.
Palladium, named after the Greek goddess Pallad, is one of the members of a group of precious metals. His valuable properties are high demand, so it is used in various industries: car manufacturers rely on it in the manufacture of catalytic neutralizers that regulate the level of emissions; Jewelers use it to create white gold alloys; Electronics manufacturers handle them covering their devices, as palladium has good conductive functions.
Although recently, Palladium prices have jumped, however, the average price is $ 8483 per kilogram (263 per troy ounce). Almost half palladium is manufactured in Russia, followed by South Africa, USA, Canada and other countries.
The fact that palladium from platinum metals is most accessible and also will relatively cheap it allows it to be widely used for anti-corrosion coatings, in various cleaning devices. Especially the demand for palladium, when the production of automotive catalysts unfolded. Most of the Palladium to the world market supplies Russia, twice as large as South Africa. This is quite justified - the fields of copper-nickel ores of Norilsk and Tahnakh contain three times more palladium than platinum. In the Urals there are also ores with palladium.
8. Silver.
Silver is one of the most valuable metals on Earth. This brilliant white metal in its pure form is the best electric and thermal conductor, while it has the lowest resistance.
You are probably known main areas of silver - jewelry, coins, photography, various schemes, dentistry, batteries. As for the unusual applications, silver can be used in order to prevent the spread of bacteria on the surface mobile phoneRemove nasty smell From shoes, as well as avoid the appearance of mold on the treated wood.
Often silver is used in alloys with copper, gold and lead-zinc ores. The largest producers of silver are considered to be Peru, China, Mexico and Chile. The average silver price is 432 dollars per kilogram (13.40 per troy ounce), although prices are regularly growing. Due to the large number of applications, silver is considered one of the most valuable metals in the world.
Well, now let's turn to the isotopes. Prices here are just astronomical. We will tell only about two metals: the most expensive and most in demand.
1. California-252 - $ 6,500,000 per gram.
California's global stock is several grams, probably no more than 5 g. On Earth, only 2 reactors can earn it. One reactor - in Russia, the other in the United States. Each of the reactors produces 20-40 micrograms per year. California incredibly roads. What properties, despite this, make this isotope so necessary?
California-252 has a half-life of 2.6 years. At the same time, 3% of all atoms are spontaneously divided and four neutrons are allocated for each division. 1 g per second sends 2.4 billiard neutrons. This corresponds to the neutron flow of the middle nuclear reactor! If such neutron radiation wanted to get a classic path from a radio-beryllium source, then it would take 200 kg of radium. Such a huge range of radium does not exist on Earth. Even such an invisible eye, as 1 μg of California-252, gives more than 2 million neutrons per second. Therefore, California-252 has recently been used in medicine as a point source of neutrons with a large flow density for local treatment of malignant tumors.
In many cases, California can now replace the atomic reactor. With the help of neutron radiography, parts of aircraft, parts of reactors, products of the most different profile are shown. Damage, which is usually impossible to detect, are now easily found. For this purpose, the USSR and the United States developed a transportable neutron camera with California-252 as a radiation source. It allows you to work regardless of the stationary atomic reactor. In the fight against crime in the United States, such a neutron camera showed its excellent "Nüh". Tablets LSD and marijuana hidden in cartridge sleeves were immediately discovered. With the help of X-rays, smuggling drugs could not find.
Did Napoleon 1 died in a reference natural death? On this question, repeatedly subjected to a discussion, a unambiguous answer was received only 140 years later. As a "material evidence" served a strand of the hair of the French Emperor, who was cut from him on May 5, 1821 on the island of St. Helena, a day after his death. Forensic medicines found that the emperor was the victim of poisoning. Using activation analysis, it was found that in the hair of Napoleon contains arsenic 13 times more than the norm. From various contents of arsenic in separate parts of hair growth, it was possible to establish even the time when they started to mix poison.
2. Osmium-187 - $ 10,000 per gram.
Why does a chemical substance have such a high selling value? This is simple explanations: first, a very small amount of this isotope in nature. Secondly, a huge consideration of the separation of isotopes. Osmium-187 until recently it was possible only by mass separation on unique centrifuges, only by one technology - separation of isotopes of radioactive elements. Mass centrifuges rotate around the clock. The procedure for producing Osmia-187 lasts about 9 months.
Osmium is a black crystalline powder of black with violet tint. As the most dense substance on earth, it is very fragile, it is easily crowned into small particles in a regular stage. It is most often used in the pharmacological industry as a catalyst in many chemical processes, for the manufacture of parts of measuring instruments. The first and only state put up Osmi-187 for sale Kazakhstan.
In the reserves of Isotop, Osmia-187, Kazakhstan ranks first in the world. Once the state of Chile claimed the leader, and did not manage to take it after the research conducted by the geologists, it turned out that their subsrail is younger than Kazakhstani for 250 million years. Accordingly, because of this, the rocks contain fewer osmium.
Precious metals - These are metals with high chemical resistance, which are practically no oxidized in air and are not corrosion, and products from these metals have unique properties and characteristic "noble" glitter. The main ones are gold, silver, platinum. The value of these metals is due to the small size of their world stocks.
TO basic precious metals Believe:
- gold AU,
- silver AG,
- platinum pt,
as well as the following platinoids or metals platinum group:
- rUTENS RU,
- rOH RH,
- palladium PD,
- osmia OS,
- iridium IR,
- rhenium re.
Gold and silver - the most ancient precious metals, famous for humanity. In those distant times, they were very often met in natives - mining was light and was not complicated by smelting from other ores. Thanks to its plastic qualifications, gold and silver are easily processed, so used for the manufacture of jewelry, cutlery and dishes, and in the 6th century, the ancient leaders began to be coin and coins. Platinum was also known to the ancient world, but the Europeans got acquainted with her in the middle of the 16th century - during the opening of America. It is noteworthy that the first mastered the use of this white noble metal, similar to silver, fakes: They drove the coins of this cheap, at that time, but more dense than silver and gold, metal. As a result, the Spanish government banned the importation of platinum into the country, and its reserves were reset in the sea. Platinum is practically not found in nature in its pure form. Her nuggets containing, as a rule, are alloys with other metals - noble and ignorable. Therefore, starting from the 18th century, the remaining metals of the platinum group were also discovered alternately.
Growth depends on several factors:
- supply and demand,
- mining
- manipulation with state reserves.
The proposal is limited to the rarity and uniqueness of noble metals, and the demand for them is constantly growing, since the specific properties of these metals are in demand in various fields: in the automotive industry, electronics and electrical engineering, in chemical engineering, in medicine, in photo and film industry, and, of course manufacturing jewelry.
Features of the extraction of precious metals bico affect their world prices. On the one hand, the magnificent complexity of production is time consuming and expensive. On the other hand, leading positions in the extraction of precious metals begin to occupy developing countries where labor is cheaper and more favorable tax regimes.
Despite the fact that since the beginning of the 20th century, the Golden Standard has been canceled, most of the states continue to keep precious metals as part of their gold and foreign exchange reserves. The statement by one of the countries to sell a part of its gold reserve significantly reduces the price of noble metals in the world market.
Today, investments in precious metals are popular in Belarus. In one can purchase precious metals in the ingots of different weight and coins. You can keep them in the bank depository, earning prices, while the benefit of such investments in long-term. And you can also open the so-called "golden account" in the bank, on which grams are stored instead of money and grow in the form of interest.
Precious metals are noble metals that are not subject to corrosion and oxidation, these properties differ from other metals. Noble metals are considered precious, thanks to their beauty, rarity and high corrosion value.The main precious metals are considered: silver, gold and metals relating to the platinum group: platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium and iridium. Precious metals Have noble properties due to their high chemical stability and beautiful brilliance. All noble metals are practically no oxidized by air oxygen. Silver, gold and platinum have high plasticity, and platinum group metals - refractory.
Precious metals were known to mankind for a very long time. In ancient times, until the middle of the Middle Ages, people believed that in nature there are only seven metals, which are conductors of one of the planets known at that time. Of these were metals that had not ordinary properties. The properties of these metals were such that they are shiny in air for a very long time or when they are in water, they are not fed by the effects of acids, caustic alkalis and high temperatures do not affect them. Of the seven metals of antiquity, noble and precious were considered silver and gold. Only starting from the 18th century, a small list of these metals was replenished with a noble platinum and metals of the platinum group.
In addition to the main noble metals, there are also other precious metals. These metals include metals - isotopes, who are artificially inflamed. For example, one of the most sought-after Metals Osmis - 187, the most expensive California - 252 and a rare noble metal technique.
Rhodium
Today, so far, many people consider gold, rare and noble metal. In fact, there are other more valuable and expensive metals. In its value and nobility, the first place is occupied by platinum metal - rhodium. This metal was opened in England in 1803, it has a silver color, with a slightly bluish tint. Rhodium applies where it is impossible to replace it with other analogues. Today, the value of the birth is 230 dollars per gram.Rodi is extremely rare in nature the chemical element. Rhodium has no own natural minerals. This explains his such high expensive cost. In addition to high cost, this metal is characterized by high resistance to various chemicals and high temperatures. Rhodium is used very often to apply rhodium coatings, on jewelry From silver. Such silver jewelry (), covered with a thin layer of rhodium, look brighter than silver and have a more attractive view. However, rhodium is an extremely fragile metal.
Platinum
In second place in value occupies - platinum. Platinum is a noble metal, which was opened by Europeans - the discovers of new lands in America. However, Platinum was known for a long time. About platinum was known in ancient Greece and Egypt. For a long time, the properties of open platinum were unknown. People did not know how it was possible to melt this metal, since the temperature of his melting was very high. Platinum as a chemical element was presented only in 1952.Precious metal - platinum This rare noble metal, which occurs in nature in the form of natural alloys with other metals. Getting platinum is a very laborious and cost-consuming process. Platinum is highly inert metal. It does not work on platinum, none separately taken acid. Even with strong inconeling, platinum does not oxidize in air. Strongly calcined platinum, after cooling saves its silver - white color.
Gold
Gold worldwide is considered the main precious metal. This noble metal belongs to seven metals of antiquity, known in the era of the Stone Age. Gold in nature occurs in the form of gold nuggets, having a small amount of impurities or in the form of natural gold alloys with other metals, for example, an alloy containing gold and silver or other metals: copper and iron.Gold has unusual properties that distinguish it from other metals. It has low electrical resistance, well conducts electric current and heat. Gold is a high-plastic metal, it is well processed, it has excellent bastard and drift. However, gold is metal with high density and is considered a heavy metal. Gold in its strength and chemical resistance is inferior to other noble metals.
Osmium
The most severe of all noble metals is the precious metal - osmium. Despite its high mass, it is considered a very fragile metal. Osmium is a silver-gray metal. Osmia was opened in England in 1804. In nature in its pure form, the osmium does not occur.Osmium is a very rare metal platinum group having a fairly high cost. High price Osmia, limits its use. Osmium is an extremely fragile metal. His main advantages is exceptional hardness and refractory.
Iridium
Iridium is a simple chemical element, a noble and precious metal, a platinum group having a greater density and is considered a heavy metal. Noble Iridium was opened in 1804. As well as other platinum group metals - element of iridium, it is extremely rare in nature. An exceptionally rare element - Iridium is a silver-white metal. Despite the high strength, Iridium is a very fragile metal. Iridium has a high hardness, which makes this metal mechanically difficult.Ruthenium
Ruthenium is a noble metal, which was opened in 1884, named after Russia. Noble ruthenium is the most rare chemical element of the platinum group. Ruthenium has valuable properties: high refractory, chemical resistance, high hardness combined with fragility. Element - ruthenium, is a catalyst for some chemical reactions.Palladium
Palladium is the lightest gem metal. He was opened by the British Vlastanon in 1803, which curtains it from America. Palladium is part of copper-nickel ore. Compared to other elements of the platinum group - palladium, this metal is relatively inexpensive and more accessible to use. Palladium has unique chemical and physical properties. This is a flexible, plastic and corrosion-resistant metal. The unique properties of Palladium, lies in his ability to dissolve hydrogen in itself and extremely easy to melt.Silver
Silver is a noble and precious metal silver - white. This most valuable metal was known for a long time. Silver is an inert, weakly reaction and beautiful metal. In nature, silver is found in the form of native silver. But in native state silver meets very rarely.Silver mining is conducted from silver ores, which includes up to 50 percent of silver. Mainly produces silver from complex or polymetallic ores. Silver in polymetallic ores is contained in small quantities. Basic, you are on these complex ores.
Silver is a rather mild and plastic metal, which is easily processed, melts, mixed into alloys with other metals and is not oxidized under normal oxygen conditions. Compared, with other precious metals, silver more actively enters chemical reactions. Silver has a very low electrical resistance, it works well and electric current.
Application of precious metals
Precious metals, mainly gold, perform and retain the money function. Silver, previously actively fulfilled the function of money, after saturation of the market, the value was gradually lost as material for making money. Today, precious metals are increasingly acquired in various industries.Noble metals in the electrical industry, go to the manufacture of electrical contacts with a great degree of reliability. For example, silver contacts in electrical circuits have high corrosive stability and resistance under action on the surface of the contacts of a short-term electric arc. Alloys of various precious metals: silver alloy with gold, gold with platinum, silver with gold and platinum, are used in the technique of weak currents at low stresses.
Precious metals, possessing large chemical resistance, used in laboratory techniques and chemical engineering. Noble metals go to the manufacture of parts, which are often exposed to various aggressive environments: electric heaters, retorts, high-temperature furnaces, thermocouples and equipment for the manufacture of optical glass, distillers, autoclaves, furnaces, buckets, flasks, special chemical laboratory dishes designed to work with various aggressive acids and alkalis.
The noble metals are used in medicine for the manufacture of various medical instruments, various parts for medical devices, prostheses, as well as various drugs, mainly made of silver.
Gold, alloyed by Germany, silicon, India, Gallium, Selenium and Tin, is on the manufacture of contacts in semiconductor diodes and transistors. Salter salts (,) are raw materials for the manufacture of photosensitive materials.
Alloys of noble metals are widely used in jewelry. Silver solders are used for soldering of various designs, where it is necessary to ensure high strength and reliability. Some noble metals possess high catalytic properties.
Many centuries ago, people drew attention to the fact that some metals do not have such characteristics like the rest. They are stronger stronger, do not dump, do not rust from contact with air and water. And in a few years, products from such metals remain as beautiful and elegant, as in the first days after the manufacture. This group of chemical elements began to be called precious metals.
Main elements
Over time, the number of precious metals, famous to humanity, has increased. Now this group includes chemical elements that do not react with oxygen, alkalis, acids that are not affected high temperatures. This is the definition of precious metals. For such qualities, elements received a nominal name - noble.
The value of precious metals is very high and for the reason that they are relatively rarely found in nature. Therefore, the more precious metal in humans, the one is considered richer. Predated gold and silver was considered the standards for measuring money, and to a greater extent it relates to the first of metals.
In the XVIII century, other elements were opened - platinum, palladium, rutheniums and a few more. By the aggregate of special characteristics, they were also counted to noble. From other metals, they are also distinguished by the complexity of the production process, since they are located deeply under the ground in the form of nuggets or as part of ore.
Now there are 8 precious metals. The list of their names is as follows: gold, silver, platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium. According to some scientists, it would be worth classifying a radioactive element of technetium, but there is no unanimity in the scientific world about this.
In the laboratory conditions, another 2 types of precious metals were obtained, referred to their characteristics to the isotopes. There are no such elements in nature. This is Osmium-187 and California-252.
Understanding which metals are called precious, will allow a person to not be deceived, for example, when buying decorations.
So, if the seller calls an unknown element and claims that it is a precious metallol, it is worth a suggestion with suspicion.
Features Rodia
The most valuable and expensive precious metallol is not at all gold, as it is considered, and rhodium. In nature, it is smaller than the yellow metal, because of which its cost is higher. The element is distinguished by a bluish color with a silver tint. The cost of birth is so high that in industry it is used only where it is impossible to choose analogs.
The noble metal was opened in the UK at the beginning of the XIX century, and now 1 g is estimated at $ 230. Rhodium does not react with other elements, so there are no compounds in nature. It is possible to obtain this metal only in pure form. It perfectly transfers the effects of ultra-high temperatures, very resistant to acids, alkalis and other aggressive environments. But rhodium is very fragile, and this is his only drawback, to some extent limiting the scope.
Properties of Platinum
About platinum people knew even in the Middle Ages. It was mined in South America, Egypt and Ancient Greece. As an independent chemical element of platinum was described in 1756 by the Swedish scientist Henrik Scheffer. In nature, it is not in pure form, but in the composition of alloys with other elements. The extraction of this fossil is conjugate with huge costs.
Externally, this precious machine is a silver substance. Of the features it is worth highlighting the resistance to any known acids in its pure form and the ability is not oxidized in air. Only royal vodka is capable of dissolving this element - a mixture of nitric and chlorine acids. Platinum Melting Temperature is 1772 degreesAt the same time, the metal is quite plastic. The density of the substance is 21.45 g / cm 3.
Differences of Gold
Gold is the most famous and revered noble metal with a wide area of \u200b\u200bapplication. In antiquity, people used this element for the manufacture of jewelry and religious attribute items. As a useful fossil, gold is found in the ingots and in the form of a silver alloy.
Most nuggets are small, but there are also real giants weighing a few kilograms. So, in 1872, the ink was found in Australia, called the "Holterman Plate".
Strictly speaking, the find did not belong to nuggets, since it only 57 kg of pure gold and 229 kg of quartz and other impurities.
The yellow metal is an excellent electric current conductor, but this property cannot be applied in order to serial production of any products due to economic inexpediency. Also, this element is distinguished by plasticity and forging. That's what made of gold:
In addition, gold is the basis of the monetary system, where it acts as a standard unit of calculation.
Advantages Osmia
In reference conditions, this precious machine is a silver-white substance with a bluish tint. It refers to the platinum group and has the biggest density of all elements found in nature. Osmis was opened in 11804, and until now it is considered extremely rare, and therefore has a very limited scope of application. Osmia Features:
- infusibility;
- hardness;
- fragility.
The melting point is 3033 ° C, and the metal boils at 5012 ° C. If the metal is converted to a powder condition and heat, it can react with sulfur and nitric acids, selenium, phosphorus, oxygen, televir, sulfur pairs and halogens.
In the native form of osmium forms compounds with iridium. It is also contained in the composition of colored copper-molybdenum and copper-nickel ores, in which there is also palladium and platinum. A small amount of element is in the waste of processing of gold-containing rocks.
Palladium characteristics
The element relates to light platinum, appearance It is a silver metal. In standard conditions, palladium plastic, heavy and refractory. For the first time this element was obtained by excretion from platinum ore. This process was able to implement the British chemist William Vollaston.
In nature palladium is found in such types:
To reduce the plasticity of the metal, microscopic amounts of ruthenium, cobalt, rhodium and nickel are added to it.
This allows you to improve hardness and improve physico-mechanical properties. The element is used as a catalyst for oil cracking and hydrogenation of fats.
Advantages of silver
Silver people mined from time immemorial. It is present in the earth's crust in natives and in alloys. About 50% of the total silver is part of silver ores, but complex minerals are served as a source of main production, where many elements are present. The main properties of the precious metallol:
- electrical conductivity;
- thermal conductivity;
- plastic;
- softness;
- the ability to form resistant compounds with other noble metals.
In terms of production, silver ranks first among all the precious metals and has the lowest cost. From this metal make dishes, decorations, interior items, electroplating cathodes, coatings for mirrors, a variety of solders, multilayer capacitors and much more.
Rare Dragmetals
Ruthenium and iridium belong to the most rare platinoids. Both are durable, very fragile and refractory. Iridium has silver-white color, from disadvantages - the complexity of machining. In natively, it is found only in samples of rocks having a cosmic (meteorite) origin. The corrosion stability of the precious machine is preserved when heated to 2000 ° C.
From this element, rods are made for ball and ink handles, precious coins. It is also used in the manufacture of spark plugs for racing and mass cars. An elelfon of a kilogram is made of Iridia and platinum alloy.
Ruthenium precious metallol received his name in honor of Russia. He was opened in 1844 by Professor Kazan University Karl Claus. Like other platinum, the precious machine has a silver color. The main way to obtain ruthenium is affinant. So called the method of cleaning some metals from impurities. In addition, rutheniums are obtained from residual division of fuel elements containing thorium, uranium and plutonium.
Use of use
The most ancient areas of applying noble metals are the manufacture of precious coins and decorations. For these purposes, used mainly silver and gold. The remaining metals were open later when scientific and technological progress presented with humanity ample opportunities, including in terms of using various elements.
Now the place of noble metals is located in all industries. Thus, with the use of palladium and platinum, catalysts, neutralizers, chips are manufactured, and nuclear tests are carried out. Iridium and Osmia are widely used in biomedicine, the production of lasers, petrochemical and chemical industries, aerospace instrument making.
From ruthenium and silver make laboratory dishes, compositions for processing photos, radio components and vital medicines. In the glass industry, precious metals are used for the production of fiber, fiberglass and liquid crystal monitors.
Investment methods
Investment into noble metals - one of best ways Save and multiply income. It should be borne in mind that this is a long-term investment. Make money on the difference in purchases and sales courses will not work, because it is always not in favor of the investor. In addition, for each operation, the Bank charges the Commission. But to invest free funds and in a few years get 50-60% more - quite real, because the cost of metal drag increases every year, although there are time drawdors.
Investment options:
A significant disadvantage of OMS is that they are not insured. This means that in the event of bankruptcy of the bank, the depositor cannot count on compensation. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the maximum reliable organization, for example, Sberbank, Alpha Bank, Tinkoff.
Thus, from everything that relates to precious metals, for individuals, there are only four practical interest: silver, gold, platinum and palladium. They can be accurately acquired in the form of ingots, decorations and coins without risk to lose their money, only you need to carefully choose the seller.
