STORIES OF THE SIX PLATINUM GROUP METALS: DISCOVERIES, CHEMISTRY, AND USES

This book presents a richly detailed and engaging chronicle of the six platinum group metals, tracing their discovery, scientific development, and far-reaching applications from jewellery and dentistry to cars and catalysis. Each metal is explored individually, revealing not only its unique chemical properties but also the colourful narratives surrounding its identification, such as the unconventional commercial debut of palladium. In addition to the "original six", the book delves into the more recent discovery and nuclear synthesis of their transuranic congeners - hassium, darmstadtium and meitnerium - offering insight into the ongoing evolution of the periodic table. A dedicated chapter reexamines how these metals challenged early versions of the periodic table, particularly in the work of Dmitri Mendeleev, and how they are positioned in modern chemical frameworks today. Combining historical narrative, chemical insight, and modern relevance, Stories of the Six Platinum Group Metals: Discoveries, Chemistry, and Uses is both a tribute to the legacy of these extraordinary elements and a timely reference for chemists, historians of science, and the curious student alike. …