What is palladium?

Palladium is a rare precious metal that belongs to the same group as platinum. This often makes the two precious metals difficult to distinguish, but palladium has slightly different properties. We give you more insight into what palladium is, what properties it has, the applications of palladium in the automotive industry and what else palladium is used for.
 

Palladium properties

Palladium is very similar to platinum when it comes to its physical and chemical properties. These properties make the precious metal very suitable for various applications in industry. The main difference between palladium and platinum is that palladium has a lower density. 
 

Physical properties

The physical properties of palladium are that it is a soft, flexible metal with a silvery-white luster. In addition, it has a low melting point and palladium has a low density, making it very light. 
 

Chemical properties

Palladium is abbreviated as Pd and has the atomic number 46. It has a cubic structure and the lowest melting point and density of the metals that make up the platinum group. Palladium is very durable as it is resistant to corrosion and oxidation. A special chemical property of palladium is that it can generate up to 900 times its volume of hydrogen at room temperature. This makes it a suitable metal for use in industry.  
 

Applications of palladium

Palladium has many uses, mainly in industry. Due to its rarity, palladium is also used to make jewellery and for investment. 
 

Palladium in the automotive industry

Like platinum, palladium is widely used in the automotive industry to produce catalytic converters. These catalysts allow the pollutants coming from the exhaust to be converted so that they are less harmful to the environment. The demand for palladium will increase with the production of more sustainable cars. 
 

Palladium in electronics

Palladium is also commonly used in electronics due to its resistance to oxidation. In addition, palladium is a very good conductor so it is mostly used to make connectors and conductive layers.  
 

Palladium in jewellery

Because palladium has the same appearance as platinum but is more common, cheaper and lighter, it is widely used in the jewellery industry. In addition, the metal is hypoallergenic, making it very suitable for earrings, rings and necklaces. 
 

Palladium as an investment

Palladium can also serve as an investment asset. Even though it is less rare than platinum and gold, it is still a rare precious metal from which investment coins and ingots are made. Demand for palladium from industry drives up the price of palladium, making it an interesting investment.  
 

Price development of palladium

In recent years, the price of palladium has continued to evolve. Market conditions, mining production, geopolitical environment and industry demand have a lot of influence on the price. Thus, it can rise and fall sharply. 
 
Disclaimer: The Silver Mountain does not provide investment advice and therefore this article should not be considered as such. Past results do not guarantee future results.