Chemical Properties
Platinum wire is chemically extremely stable, insoluble in strong acid and alkali solutions, and does not oxidize in air. The first ionization energy is 9.0 electron volts. The valency is +2, +4 and +6. Melting point 1772℃, boiling point 3827℃. Density 21.46 g/cm3. Silver-white metal, soft and ductile. Crystal structure is face-centered cubic. Platinum has high chemical stability, in addition to dissolved in aqua regia and molten alkali, but also dissolved in hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid and perchloric acid mixture, in addition to the platinum at room temperature does not with the role of strong acids, alkalis and other reagents in general. But platinum at high temperatures are susceptible to corrosion, for example: for a variety of oxidizing agents, strong bases, easily reducible heavy metals, and sulfur, phosphorus, arsenic, etc., platinum or its destruction, or alloy with it, because of this, so shall not be heated in platinum utensils or melt alkali metal oxides, sodium thiosulphate, phosphorus-containing and large amounts of sulfur-containing substances and heavy metals containing samples (such as lead, tin, antimony, arsenic, mercury, copper, etc.). It is not permitted to use large amounts of peroxide, sodium hydroxide (potassium) as a melting agent at high temperatures. Platinum vessels are not allowed to handle halogens or substances that decompose halogens.
