The use of precious metals
Metals (precious metals), which are called precious, are not exactly because of their high cost; although it does matter, but because of their valuable features that distinguish them from all other metals known to us through the Mendeleyev table. These features include: high chemical resistance, significant resistance to certain chemical processes (corrosion, oxidation, thermal conductivity and others).
Everyone knows such metals as gold and silver, but others that are related to one common platinum group are also precious. It includes platinum, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, and palladium. The natural reserves of these precious metals are depleted every year, and it is quite difficult to extract them from the ground, although sometimes it is possible to find nuggets with a large share of luck. In connection with the laboriousness of the extraction process, great importance is now being given to the competent utilization of equipment, which contains radio electronic components with a significant share of precious metals. We are a company that will buy radio components containing precious metals.
Gold
This metal, contrary to popular belief, is not the most expensive element; it takes only the third place in value, although it is considered the main precious metal on the planet. The main gold-bearing deposits are known, where gold is found in pure form, as nuggets, and also as alloys with other elements (for example, with silver). Gold has a high thermal conductivity, low resistance, excellent malleability, ductility.
Rhodium
The first place for expensive and rare among precious metals is such a metal as rhodium. It is a noble silver metal with a bluish tinge. Rhodium was discovered in 1803 in the UK. The price for rhodium is very high; therefore it is used in industrial production only in exceptional cases – when it is impossible to use its analogues. Most often, rhodium is used as an alloy with other chemical elements. Metal has a high resistance to aggressive environment, significant temperature fluctuations.
Platinum
It takes conditionally the second place in value, the metal is familiar to people from the times of Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, but as a chemical element was presented only in 1952 by scientist, chemist Scheffer. Platinum is also a rare precious metal of silvery white color. In nature, it can be found only in the form of a natural alloy with other chemical elements related to metals. Obtain in the laboratory conditions pure platinum is extremely difficult and expensive. Platinum has high chemical stability, resistance to oxidation both in ordinary air and in various acids.
Precious metal is osmium
The element was opened in 1804, is the heaviest silver-gray precious metal. In its pure form it is not found in nature. Because of its rarity and, of course, high cost is applied in limited quantities (Hard, refractory, but at the same time fragile).
Iridium
Opening time is 1804 year. It is a heavy silver, white precious metal. In nature it is extremely rare. It is difficult to handle because of its high strength, has a high hardness, but at the same time, brittleness.
Ruthenium
This metal is also a very rare metal from all metals belonging to the platinum group. Opened it in 1844. Its value is betrayed by refractoriness, high resistance to various chemical substances. It is successfully used as a catalyst for chemical reactions.
Palladium
The date of opening is 1803 (England). It is the lightest of all precious metals. Palladium is somewhat cheaper, more affordable than its “comrades” in the group, as it is found in copper-nickel ore. The metal is flexible, ductile, resistant to corrosion, low-melting. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it can dissolve hydrogen.
Silver, as a precious metal
After gold, silver is the most famous precious metal, found in natural conditions in complex, silver ore, in nuggets. The metal has a significant thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, softness, plasticity, actively reacts with many chemical substances.
