78
Room of the Elements · No. 78
Platinum (Pt): what kind of element is it?
日本語
In short
Platinum is element number 78, a metal with the symbol Pt. Its name comes from the Spanish platina, meaning “little silver.”
Atomic number 78195.1
PtPlatinum白金 (hakkin)- Symbol
- Pt
- Atomic weight
- 195.1
- Place in the table
- Period 6 · Group 10
Atomic weight from the Chemical Society of Japan, “Table of Standard Atomic Weights with Four Significant Figures (2026)”.
“Little silver”
The symbol Pt comes from a Spanish word that is a diminutive of the word for silver. Platinum was discovered in 1748.
Where it sits on the table
Platinum is in the sixth row of Group 10, with palladium above and nickel above that.
Next door, in Group 11, is gold, with silver above it. Well-known metals gather around platinum.
Think about it
- Q1The Japanese name 白金 means “white gold.” Why do you think it got that name?
- Q2If you found a metal like silver that wasn’t silver, what would you call it?
- Q3Find platinum, gold and mercury side by side in the sixth row.
There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.
Did you know? — Nickel (“false copper”) and platinum (“little silver”) were both named for resembling another metal, and both are in Group 10.