Image description: Simplified atomic model of the platinum atom. The main stable isotope is \(^{195}\mathrm{Pt}\) with its 78 protons, 78 electrons, and 117 neutrons. Image source: astronoo.com
铂在天体物理学和宇宙化学中的作用
恒星合成与宇宙起源
Platinum is a heavy element mainly synthesized by the r过程 (rapid neutron capture) during violent events such as supernovae and neutron star mergers. It is a siderophile element, with a strong affinity for metallic iron. This geochemical trait explains why, during Earth's formation, most of the platinum in primordial matter migrated to the 金属内核. The extremely low concentration of platinum in the mantle and Earth's crust (parts per billion) contrasts with its relative abundance in chondritic meteorites, which better reflect the composition of the nascent solar system.
Like iridium, platinum is a key tracer of extraterrestrial material in geological layers. 铂异常 are sought in sedimentary strata to identify past asteroid impacts. The platinum-osmium isotopic system (\(^{190}\mathrm{Pt}\) decays to \(^{186}\mathrm{Os}\)) is a complementary dating tool to the Re-Os system, used to date very ancient planetary differentiation events or to study the source of platinum in terrestrial deposits.
The name "platinum" comes from the Spanish "platina", a diminutive of "plata" meaning silver. This term was used somewhat pejoratively by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, who found this white metal mixed with gold in Colombian rivers and considered it "little silver" or "impure gold," sometimes discarding it. Its true value was only recognized later.
前哥伦布时期的使用与欧洲发现
Artifacts made of gold-platinum alloy dating from the pre-Columbian era have been found in Ecuador, attesting to the ancient mastery of the metal by indigenous peoples. For European science, platinum was formally identified as a new element in the 1740s-1750s, notably through the work of the Spanish scholar 安东尼奥·德·乌略亚 (who brought it from America) and the British scientist 威廉·布朗里格. The Swedish chemist 亨里克·谢弗 published a detailed description in 1752, calling it "white gold."
18世纪和19世纪的提纯与生产
Purifying platinum was a major challenge due to its extremely high melting point. The first method, developed in the 1780s by the Frenchman 皮埃尔-弗朗索瓦·沙巴诺 under the patronage of the King of Spain, involved purifying platinum sponge by hammering and hot forging. The "fire assay" technique made it possible to produce the first malleable ingot. In the 19th century, the discovery of other platinum group metals (palladium, rhodium, etc.) in raw platinum and the development of hydrogen-oxygen furnaces by 亨利·圣克莱尔·德维尔 and 朱尔·亨利·德布雷 (1857) paved the way for industrial production.
存款与现代生产
主要的铂矿床有两种类型：
层状岩浆矿床: The 布什维尔德 complex in South Africa contains about 70-80% of the world's known reserves. Platinum is associated with chromium and other platinum group metals in ultramafic rock layers.
镍硫化物矿床: Such as in 诺里尔斯克, Russia (the world's second largest producer) and 萨德伯里, Canada. Platinum is a byproduct of nickel and copper extraction.
冲积矿床: Historically important (Colombia, Ural Mountains), they are now marginal.
Global annual production is about 180-200吨. South Africa dominates production (≈70%), followed by Russia (≈20%). Platinum is one of the most expensive metals, generally more valuable than gold except during periods of high gold demand. Its value is driven by critical industrial applications, far beyond jewelry.
高密度: 21.45 g/cm³ at 20°C (almost twice as heavy as lead).
熔点非常高: 1768.3°C.
优异的延展性和可塑性: Can be drawn into very fine wires (less than 1 micron) and rolled into extremely thin sheets.
耐腐蚀性: Exceptional, unalterable in air and atmospheric agents.
热稳定性: Can be heated to white heat without oxidizing.
铂以面心立方（FCC）结构结晶。
变换点
Platinum melts at 1768.3°C (2041.4 K) and boils at 3825°C (4098 K). Its wide solid temperature range and excellent chemical stability at high temperatures make it a material of choice for high-temperature equipment.
化学反应活性（极低）
Platinum is the archetype of the 贵金属. It is resistant to most chemical agents:
空气和氧气: Unalterable at any temperature. Does not form stable oxide (PtO₂ decomposes around 450°C).
水和简单的酸: Resistant to hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric, and hydrofluoric acids, even when concentrated and hot.
王水: Dissolves to form chloroplatinic acid (H₂PtCl₆). This is the characteristic reagent for platinum.
熔融碱: Generally resistant, can be attacked by molten alkaline cyanides in the presence of oxidants.
卤素: Reacts with chlorine when hot to form PtCl₂ or PtCl₄. Attacked by fluorine.
物理特性总结
Density: 21.45 g/cm³. Melting point: 2041.4 K (1768.3°C). Boiling point: 4098 K (3825°C). Crystal structure: Face-centered cubic (FCC). Electronic configuration: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁹ 6s¹. Main oxidation states: +2 and +4.
Platinum has 10 价电子 if we count the electrons in the 5d and 6s shells (9+1). It exhibits rich chemistry with several stable oxidation states, the most important being +2 and +4. The +2 state (d⁸ configuration) is very common in square planar complexes, such as the famous cisplatin (cis-[PtCl₂(NH₃)₂]), an anticancer drug. The +4 state (d⁶ configuration) is also stable (e.g., PtO₂, PtF₆). Other states such as 0, +1, +3, +5, and +6 exist but are less common.
Its only notable weakness is 王水, a mixture of concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acids, which dissolves it to form hexachloroplatinic acid (IV), H₂[PtCl₆]: Pt + 4 HNO₃ + 6 HCl → H₂[PtCl₆] + 4 NO₂ + 4 H₂O. This compound is the starting point for the preparation of most other platinum compounds.
注：: , or 皇家水, is a corrosive mixture of concentrated nitric acid (HNO₃) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl) in a typical ratio of 1:3. Its ability to dissolve gold and platinum, which are resistant to separate acids, is explained by the 原位 formation of chlorine (Cl₂) and nitrosyl chloride (NOCl), which oxidize these metals into soluble complex ions (such as [AuCl₄]⁻ or [PtCl₆]²⁻). Used since alchemy for the purification of precious metals, it still plays a crucial role in metallurgy, microelectronics, and analytical chemistry.
与卤素及其他元素的反应
氯: Reacts when hot (≈300°C) to give PtCl₂ (brown) or PtCl₄ (red-brown).
氟: Attacked to form PtF₄, PtF₅, or PtF₆ (one of the most powerful oxidants known).
硫: Reacts when hot to form PtS.
磷、砷、硅: Form compounds at high temperature.
氰化物: Dissolves in alkaline cyanides in the presence of air (used in extraction).
重要化合物
六氯铂酸（H₂[PtCl₆]）: Orange salt, key precursor.
氯亚铂酸钾 (K₂[PtCl₄]): Red salt, precursor of Pt(II) complexes.
四氯化铂（PtCl₄）: Brown-red hygroscopic solid.
顺铂（cis-[PtCl₂(NH₃)₂]）: Square planar complex, major anticancer drug.
亚当斯催化剂（PtO₂·H₂O）: Hydrogenation catalyst.
铂金在工业和技术领域的应用
Main component of 汽车催化剂 (catalytic converters) to reduce emissions of pollutants (CO, NOx, unburned hydrocarbons);
In 高级珠宝, for the manufacture of rings, watches, chains, and settings (platinum-950 alloys);
As a material for 高精度实验室设备 (crucibles, dishes, electrodes, resistance wires);
Key catalyst in the 奥斯特瓦尔德法 for the industrial production of nitric acid (from ammonia);
In 硬盘驱动器 as a magnetic layer (cobalt-platinum-chromium alloys) for high-density data storage;
As an unattackable electrode in 电化学装置 (electrolyzers, fuel cells, cathodic protection systems);
In 牙科学 for crown, bridge, and implant alloys;
As a catalyst in the 催化重整 of petroleum to produce high-octane gasoline;
In 铂电阻温度计 (PRT) and type S thermocouples (Pt-Rh) for precise temperature measurement;
As a catalyst for the production of 氢气 by water electrolysis and for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC);
In 药房 as the active ingredient in anticancer drugs (cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin);
In 玻璃纤维 as a material for spinneret nozzles (platinum-rhodium alloy nozzles);
As a 参考标准 in electrochemistry (the standard hydrogen electrode often uses platinum-plated platinum);
For 可靠的电气接触 in telecommunications equipment and medical devices.
其耐用性: It is harder than gold and more scratch-resistant.
它的纯度: Jewelry alloys are 950‰ (95% platinum), compared to 750‰ for 18-karat gold.
主要用于婚戒、单钻戒指、高端腕表及钻石镶嵌（其中性白色完美衬托宝石）。
工业化学催化
在催化转换器之外，铂还催化着许多基础反应：
奥斯特瓦尔德法: Oxidation of ammonia (NH₃) into nitrogen oxides, the first step towards nitric acid (fertilizers, explosives).
选择性加氢 in fine and pharmaceutical chemistry (Adams' catalyst).
催化重整: Conversion of petroleum naphthas into high-octane gasolines and aromatics (benzene, toluene).
硅胶生产: Catalysis of hydrosilylation.
医学与科学应用
铂类抗癌药物
平面正方形铂(II)配合物是一类主要的化疗药物。
顺铂 (discovered in the 1960s): Treats testicular, ovarian, bladder, lung, and other cancers. It binds to the DNA of cancer cells, blocking their replication.
卡铂: Less toxic to the kidneys than cisplatin.
奥沙利铂: Used against colorectal cancer.
这些药物每年拯救数十万人的生命。
实验室与测量设备
坩埚与蒸发皿: For high-temperature fusions (soda, borax) without risk of contamination.
电极: Inert electrodes for electrogravimetry, electrolysis, sensors.
铂电阻温度计（PRT）: The electrical resistance of platinum varies in a very linear and reproducible manner with temperature. PRTs are international standards for precise measurement between -200°C and 1000°C.
电阻丝: For high-precision laboratory furnaces.
清洁能源技术
铂金是能源转型的关键材料：
质子交换膜燃料电池（PEMFC）: Platinum (and its alloys) is the essential catalyst on the electrodes for hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction. It equips fuel cell vehicles and some stationary generators.
PEM电解槽: For the production of "green" hydrogen from water and renewable electricity. Platinum catalyzes the hydrogen evolution reaction.
毒理学、环境与回收利用
毒性
Metallic platinum is 惰性且无毒. This is why it is used in jewelry and dentistry without risk. However:
灰尘: Inhalation of platinum dust or fumes (during metalworking) can cause allergic reactions (platinosis): irritation of the respiratory tract, asthma, dermatitis.
可溶性铂盐: Some salts (such as chloroplatinates) can be irritating and sensitizing.
抗癌复合物: Cisplatin and its derivatives are cytotoxic (this is their therapeutic effect) but have significant systemic side effects (nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, myelosuppression). They must be handled with strict pharmaceutical precautions.
Platinum recycling is 极具经济吸引力 and crucial for supply security. The main sources are:
废旧汽车催化转换器: The most important recycling source. Catalysts are collected, crushed, and platinum is recovered through complex pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes.
原子的各种形态：从古代直觉到量子力学 
