| Origin of Name |
From the Greek word Pallas, the goddess of wisdom |
| Date and Place of Discovery |
In 1803 in London, England |
| Discovered by |
William H. Wollaston |
| Common Compounds |
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| Interesting facts |
- It is the least dense and has the lowest melting point of the platinum metals.
- It is chemically attacked by sulfuric, nitric and hydrochloric acid.
- It does not react with oxygen, which means it does not tarnish in air. It will tarnish
slightly in moist air that contains sulfur.
- When it absorbs large amounts of hydrogen, it will swell up like a sponge full of water.
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| Common Uses |
- Dentistry
- Watch making
- Aircraft spark plugs
- Surgical instruments
- Electrical contacts
- Signs
- Once prescribed as a treatment for tuberculosis until more effective drugs were discovered.
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