Page 97 - The Periodic Table Book

Uses ANTONIO DE ULLOA

Although platinum had been in use in jewellery on
the west coast of South America for more than 2,000
years, it was Spanish naval officer Antonio de Ulloa
who made the first major study of it. In 1735, while on
watch
a South American expedition, he found grains of the
Platinum
metal in river sands. He brought them back to Spain
to examine them. Transition Metals

thermometer
Platinum resistance

This thermometer
records temperature
by measuring the
electric current
flowing through a Expensive
fine platinum wire. watches use
the precious
metal platinum. Dental fillings once This drug contains
platinum and kills
Platinum prints contained platinum cancer cells in
have a wider range and mercury. the body.
of shades than
silver prints.

Jewellery made Cancer drug
of platinum does Platinum ring
not lose its shine.
Dental crown

This stent made
of platinum is
Black and white
photographic print
not harmful to the
body and anchors
a damaged blood
vessel as it heals.
Platinum
was found
in an Egyptian This fuel cell
contains platinum,
casket from the which speeds up
7th century the reaction
between hydrogen
bce. Fuel cell and oxygen. Medical stent

more applications were discovered. Platinum generate electricity by combining hydrogen
can be used in place of silver to generate and oxygen. These cells do not need to be
photographic prints, and in place of gold for recharged like other batteries. Powerful drugs
making dental fillings. Today, platinum plays for treating cancer contain this element,
an important role in various technologies. For while stents made of pure platinum help
example, it is used in fuel cells – devices that heal damaged blood vessels. 95

094-095_Platinum.indd 95 02/12/16 6:52 pm