Which metal is the most annoying?
Palladium is a reminder that the world is not perfect.
In the world of elements, gold shines with noble brilliance, and silver exudes elegant temptation.
But there is a metal that seems to exist just to trouble people.
Palladium - belonging to the platinum group, but unlike its royal sister platinum, it does not try to make an impression.
Its color is a dull grayish silver, it looks like a faded, slightly crumpled aluminum foil,
long forgotten in a kitchen cabinet.
Yet this humble one thinks it's too good for oxidation.
Compared to iron, which rusts, and copper, which turns green, palladium refuses to fade in the air.
It remains perpetually gloomy and dull, as if mocking the surrounding world that tries to change it.
The greatest property of palladium lies in its chemical properties, especially its amazing ability to absorb hydrogen.
Palladium can be seen as a metallic sponge.
At room temperature, it can absorb 900 times its own volume of hydrogen gas.
The same ability also makes it a nightmare for metallurgists.
Melting it with other metals is a great pleasure.
It may randomly alter the properties of the alloy, causing chaos in carefully designed processes.
But the most unpleasant thing is - its price.
For years, the price of palladium has been higher than that of platinum and gold.
Its price is not for beauty or tradition, like gold.
Over 80% of the mined palladium is used to make catalytic converters.
It is the best catalyst for oxidizing exhaust gases in benzene engines.
Its value is artificial and unstable.
It depends on China's environmental standards, the sales of SUVs in the United States, and the decisions of European parliamentarians.
And "palladium" with 950 purity - an alloy containing only 5% other metals.
It... is gray, dull gray.
The ring you paid a lot of money for, you also have to put in a lot of effort to explain to guests that it's not made of aluminum.
Why have we reconciled with him so far?
The answer is simple: because he is smart.
His catalytic properties are magic, supporting modern chemical industry and the ecology of big cities.
He is indispensable in electronics, medicine, and as a storage material for future fuel hydrogen.
We need him.
We rely on this capricious, unobtrusive, expensive, and cunning metal.
We hate him, curse his price, but we have to continue working with him.
Palladium is a reminder that the world is not perfect.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843015615312908/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.