Palladium
Real Metals · Very Rare · Modern
A platinum-group metal with a remarkable ability to absorb hydrogen, up to 900 times its own volume at room temperature. This property makes it essential for automotive catalytic converters and a key material in hydrogen fuel cell research.
Identity
- Symbol
- Pd
- Atomic number
- 46
- Source
- Natural element
- Aliases
- Pd
Physical Properties
- Appearance
- Silvery-white, similar to platinum but slightly warmer in tone, does not tarnish
- Luster
- Metallic
- Density
- 12.02 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 1555 °C
- Boiling point
- 2963 °C
- Lighter
- Hihiirokane
- Denser
- Rhodium
- Magnetism
- Non-magnetic
- Electrical conductivity
- Medium
Mechanical Properties
- Mohs hardness
- 4.75
- Tensile strength
- 195 MPa
- Softer
- Karchedonian Bronze
- Harder
- Atium
- Workability
- Moderate
- Brittleness
- Tough
- Malleability
- High
- Ductility
- High
Chemical Properties
- Corrosion resistance
- absolute
- Reactivity
- very low
Lore & Narrative
Palladium was discovered in 1803 and named after the asteroid Pallas. It experienced a dramatic price spike in 2019-2020, briefly exceeding gold per ounce due to tightening emissions regulations driving catalytic converter demand.
- Notable uses
- Catalytic converters, fuel cells, electronics, white gold alloys
- Forge uses
- jewelry, catalytic applications, electronics
- Worldbuilding traits
- hydrogen-absorbing, catalytic, modern, rare
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