Fellow humans are drawn to metals that are scarce, stunning, and practical – these are precious metals. In the jewellery, technology, investment, and industrial world, they have a high value and are much sought after. Disclosed within this article are the top ten precious metals and the special characteristics of each. 

Gold (Au) 

Gold is probably the most recognized precious metal, that people value because of its shine and its’ inability to rust. Frequently, it is used in jewellery, electronics and as an inflation hedge. It is mainly because gold has a scarcity value added to it, and has a cultural significance, which is why investors prefer it.

Key Features 

  • Unusual ductility and thermal conduction characteristics.
  • In the past they have served as money.
  • Used by the electronics industry and aerospace industries.

Silver (Ag) 

Silver is one of the most famous reagents due to its shining ability and its ability to work in any type of medium. Apart from its use in jewellery, silver has other important uses in developing applications such as solar panels, and batteries because of its bacterial-inhibiting nature and in medical equipment.

Key Features 

  • The highest electrical and thermal conductivity among all types of metals today.
  • Common with photography machines and some industries.
  • More available in the world but cheaper than gold.

Platinum (Pt) 

Platinum is a very scarce, inconsumable metal that is generally associated with higher standards or class. It is employed in making jewellery, auto exhaust systems known as catalytic converters, and some medical appliances. Platinum is currently rare, and it has a broad application in the manufacture of various products in the industries.

Key Features of Platinum:

  • Very much resistant to corrosion & heat.
  • Used in the automobile and chemical sectors. 

Rhodium (Rh) 

Rhodium is one of the rarest and most expensive precious metals on the planet. It is a good reflector and thus used in making mirrors, searchlights and coating jewellery.

Key Features 

  • Very reflective and non-corrosive to tools.
  • Used mainly in catalytic converters.
  • Education: Expensive since it is scarce, and the gap between supply and demand is very tight.

Palladium (Pd) 

Platinum group metal is palladium which is used in automobile production, specifically in the manufacture of a catalyst component known as the catalytic converter. It is also finding increased use in jewellery design as well.

Key Features 

  • Applied in electronics and dentistry.
  • Rising requirements caused by the government’s adoption of green energy policies

Iridium (Ir) 

Iridium is the fourth denser than steel and the most resistant to corrosion of all the known metals. Industrial uses are in spark plugs, electronics and in the medical field it is used in the production of electronics-related commodities.

Key Features 

  • Withstands high temperatures, and has a low wear rate.
  • Used in devices used in deep-sea as well as space exploration

Osmium (Os) 

Osmium is a hard and very dense metal and is rare in its natural form due to which it has very few uses. The principal employed is as a strengthening agent for metallic alloys.

Key Features 

  • High-density natural material or substance.
  • Applied in manufacturing applications that include; fountain pen tips and electrical contacts.
  • Hard to produce and refine – it is a rare metal.

Ruthenium (Ru) 

Ruthenium is a heavy metal used as a strengthening agent for platinum and palladium alloys. It is also used in electronic components and chemical catalysis also.

Key Features 

  • Used in the manufacturing of solar cells and supercapacitors.
  • It has scarcity which makes it valuable.

Rhenium (Re)

Rhenium is a rare metal, which possesses very high heat-resisting properties. It is extensively used in jet engines and also as a catalyst in the petrochemical process.

Key Features 

  • Frost resistance and high strength; density and melting point.
  • Required for the aircraft industry.
  • It is almost always not present in the free state.

Tungsten (W) 

Despite being categorized as chromophilic metal, tungsten cannot be considered a precious metal owing to its hardness and high melting point, however necessary to engineering industries. Just as it is also progressively finding its way into jewellery.

Key Features 

  • Melting point is the greatest among all elements.
  • utilized in cutting tools as well as military certain uses

Why Precious Metals Matter 

The metal possessing precious quality is very useful in the present world and is used for both functional and commercial purposes. If you want to try your luck in selling or buying the metals, then you should know more about them. Northeast Metal Reclaiming is your source for buying and reclaiming precious metals and providing you with honest value for your possessions. If you wish to know more about selling your precious metals you can email us at [email protected], or you can call us at (800) 237-0416. We are here to support you to explore the potential value of your valuable assets.

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