Palladium is element number 46, a metal with the symbol Pd. Its name comes from the asteroid Pallas.
Atomic number 46106.4
PdPalladiumパラジウム (parajiumu)
Symbol
Pd
Atomic weight
106.4
Place in the table
Period 5 · Group 10
Atomic weight from the Chemical Society of Japan, “Table of Standard Atomic Weights with Four Significant Figures (2026)”.
A goddess and an asteroid
Pallas is the name of a goddess in Greek myth, and there is an asteroid with the same name. Palladium was named after that asteroid. It was discovered in 1803.
Where it sits on the table
Palladium is in the fifth row of Group 10, with nickel above and platinum below. Next door, in Group 11, is silver.
Think about it
Q1Look for elements named after stars or planets.
Q2Why might a newly found element be named after an asteroid people were talking about?
Q3Nickel, palladium and platinum share a column. Do you think they are alike?
There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.
Did you know? — Elements named after heavenly bodies include helium (the Sun), selenium (the Moon), tellurium (the Earth) and palladium (the asteroid Pallas).