The role of palladium in a catalytic converter is to convert these pollutants into carbon dioxide (CO2) gas and water (H2O) vapors. Palladium speeds up hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions that occur in the converter. Catalytic converters are considered one of the most expensive parts of a car because they contain precious metals.
Palladium, a noble metal, exhibits several unique chemical properties that make it invaluable in industrial applications, particularly in catalysis and electronics. Below are key chemical properties of Palladium, accompanied by relevant equations: Palladium is highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation, even at high temperatures.
[ 20 ] Palladium (0), as well as palladium (II), are catalysts in coupling reactions, as has been recognized by the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Richard F. Heck, Ei-ichi Negishi, and Akira Suzuki. Such reactions are widely practiced for the synthesis of fine chemicals.
Palladium has little environmental impact. It is present at low levels in some soils, and the leaves of trees have been found to containg 0.4 ppm. Some plants, such as the water hyacinth, are killed by low levels of palladium salts but most plants tolerate it, although tests indicate that their growth is affected at levels above 3 ppm.
A precious gray-white metal, palladium is extremely ductile and easily worked. Palladium is not tarnished by the atmosphere at ordinary temperatures. Thus, the metal and its alloys serve as substitutes for platinum in jewelry and in electrical contacts; the beaten leaf is used for decorative purposes.
Palladium has a face-centered cubic structure in its lattice form. High binding energy within the lattice forces each hydrogen molecule to split into two hydrogen atoms. These atoms then absorb in interstitial spaces of the lattice. When palladium absorbs hydrogen, its structure changes into either the alpha phase or the beta phase.
OverviewApplicationsCharacteristicsCompoundsOccurrenceEffects on healthHistoryPalladium as investment
The largest use of palladium today is in catalytic converters. Palladium is also used in jewelry, dentistry, watch making, blood sugar test strips, aircraft spark plugs, surgical instruments, and electrical contacts. Palladium is also used to make some professional transverse (concert or classical) flutes. As a commodity, palladium bullion has ISO currency codes of XPD and 964. Palladiu…