Density
12.023 g/cm³ (at 20 °C)
Discovery
Discovered by William Hyde Wollaston in 1803, around the same time as rhodium.
Common Uses
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Used in catalytic converters in automobiles to reduce emissions.
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Used in jewelry, often as an alternative to platinum.
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Used in dentistry for crowns and bridges.
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Used in electronics for contacts and in multi-layer ceramic capacitors.
Interesting Facts
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Palladium is named after the asteroid Pallas, which was discovered shortly before the element.
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It can absorb a significant amount of hydrogen at room temperature, a property studied for hydrogen storage applications.
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Like other platinum group metals, it is rare and valuable.
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It has a bright, silvery-white luster.
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