Discover the Sparkle: 11 Fascinating and Entertaining Facts about Platinum You Never Knew!

1. Billionaire's Garage of Platinum

If you thought only billionaires hold the key to platinum, you'd be partially right: though rare, the 321 million ounces of platinum mined since 1900 could fill a swanky large garage rather than the "boardroom of the wealthy" misconception.
Source => sdbullion.com

2. Platinum: Conquistadors' Annoyance

Oh, platinum, you sneaky, shiny metal, always photobombing gold's 17th-century glamour shots: Little did the Spanish Conquistadors know that their annoying nuisance in the Choco region of Colombia would later be in high demand and become the life of the party among jewellers and goldsmiths. By the 18th century, platinum was the star of extravagant cutlery, watch chains, and coat buttons, securing its place as a prestigious precious metal in the world of opulence.
Source => azom.com

Did you know that gold, the "king of metals" among alchemists, can actually be dissolved by a special mixture called aqua regia? Dive in to discover more interesting facts about this noble and resistant metal! 🏆✨

=> Fun Facts about Gold

3. Platinum's Geological Hide and Seek

Platinum may seem like the shy cousin of gold and silver, hiding in their lustrous shadows, but it's actually the rare metal with a secret talent for playing hide and seek: This elusive elemental superstar boasts an average concentration of just 0.005 ppm in Earth's crust, yet shows off its skills in certain geological formations like layered intrusions, where it concentrates itself up to 20 times higher than its typical abundance.
Source => scirp.org

4. Platinum: Eco-friendly and Pliable

When platinum isn't busy moonlighting as a fancy blonde hair shade or posing as the star of countless rap songs, it's casually redefining the future of electric power: Platinum's wondrous properties allow it to be used in eco-friendly fuel cells, generating electricity through hydrogen and oxygen reactions, and it's so pliable that just a single gram can be stretched into a wire over a mile long!
Source => reuters.com

5. Fireproof Platinum Currency

Once upon a time in Russia, mighty platinum was heralded as the most fireproof currency: a chameleon of precious metals, with that unique ability to keep cool under pressure and shrug off flames only to emerge unscathed. Alas, from 1828 to 1845, it masqueraded as ordinary currency, beguiling merchants with its steadfastness and often mistaken for lesser metals. The plot twist: Today, the legend of platinum coins has been revived by several countries, including Russia, the United States, Canada, Australia, China, Austria, and the Isle of Man, as they issue platinum bullion coins to collectors and investors searching for an indestructible stash of wealth.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Koh-i-Noor Diamond's Weight Loss

Talk about a great weight loss journey: the Koh-i-Noor diamond, that sparkling symbol of power and prestige, had to go on a serious "carat-cutting" diet, slimming down to a svelte 105.6 carats from its original heft. The serious reveal: Once a prize possession of Mughal emperors, Iranian Shahs, Afghan Emirs, and Sikh Maharajas, this famed gem was given to Queen Victoria as part of the Treaty of Lahore in 1849 and has been a royal affair ever since – but don't expect it to grace the Coronation of King Charles come May, for it's Queen Mary's Crown that'll be stealing the spotlight, freshly resized for Camilla from its residence at the Tower of London.
Source => cbsnews.com

7. Platinum Thermometers

Who knew platinum would make a great thermometer, isn't it usually reserved for bling and fancy cars? Well, it seems the world of science disagrees: the platinum resistance thermometer, invented in 1887 by Professor H. L. Callendar, is an incredibly accurate temperature-measuring tool used in a plethora of industries, having defined the International Temperature Scale from -190° to 660°C since 1928, and remains unsurpassed in precision for more than thirty years. Move over diamonds, platinum's got utility!
Source => technology.matthey.com

8. Platinum's Chemically Shy Side

You may think that platinum is the Sir Lancelot of metals - dashing, impervious, and oh-so-noble - but this silver stallion speaks fluent chemistry and breaks into a sweat when faced with a few select opponents: Interestingly, platinum can react with substances like chlorine, bromine, iodine, and sulfur, even forming platinum tetrafluoride when it tangoes with fluorine at high temperatures.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Exhaust-ing Life of Platinum Particles

What an exhaust-ing day at the spa for platinum particles, breathing in all those toxic fumes: Platinum acts as a catalyst in vehicle exhaust systems, where its oxygen-loving personality allows it to help convert the noxious carbon monoxide into more environmentally friendly carbon dioxide, with scientists at Leiden University uncovering the mechanism behind this and opening avenues for the efficient use of this rare resource.
Source => phys.org

10. Platinum's Grand Versatile Entrance

Who says platinum isn't everyone's cup of molten metal kettle? It clings to the dentist's drill, dazzles on your favorite scientist's lab bench, and schmoozes with high-end jewelry: Platinum, that versatile showstopper, makes its grand entrance not just in catalytic converters, but also graces dental, laboratory, and electrical equipment.
Source => thermofisher.com

11. Committing to a Platinum Crown

If you think committing to a lifelong relationship is tough, try committing to a platinum crown: King of Bavaria's headpiece from the 1800s still stands strong, flexing its corrosion-resistant powers in a Munich museum.
Source => platinuminvestment.com