Palladium and platinum are both rare precious metals with similar appearance and chemical properties, but they differ in some important ways. The following are the main differences between palladium and platinum:
1. Appearance: Palladium and platinum are very similar in appearance, both have a silvery-white metallic luster. However, upon closer inspection, palladium is slightly grayer, while platinum is whiter.
2. Density: The density of platinum is higher than that of palladium. Platinum has a density of approximately 21.45 g/cm3, while palladium has a density of approximately 12.02 g/cm3. Therefore, for the same volume of platinum and palladium, platinum will be heavier.
3. Melting point: The melting point of platinum (1768°C) is higher than that of palladium (1554°C), which means that platinum can withstand higher temperatures without melting.
4. Hardness: The hardness of platinum is slightly higher than that of palladium, which allows platinum to withstand greater pressure and wear when making jewelry.
5. Rarity: Platinum is rarer than palladium. Platinum is only about one-tenth as abundant in the earth's crust as palladium, so platinum is generally more expensive than palladium.
6. Corrosion resistance: Both platinum and palladium have good corrosion resistance, but platinum is better in this regard. Platinum is widely used in chemical and medical fields due to its extremely high resistance to a wide range of acids, bases and organic compounds.
7. Price: Because platinum is rarer and more resistant to corrosion, platinum is generally more expensive than palladium. However, it is important to note that prices are affected by market supply and demand and may therefore fluctuate.
8. Application fields: Platinum and palladium are widely used in many fields, but the application directions are slightly different. Platinum is often used in the production of high-end jewelry, fuel cells, catalysts and medical devices, while palladium is more commonly used in automobile exhaust purifiers, electronic equipment and medical devices.
In short, both palladium and platinum are rare and valuable metals, but they have certain differences in appearance, density, melting point, hardness, rarity, corrosion resistance, price and application fields. . Depending on actual needs and budget, the most suitable metal can be selected.