Atomica
46Pd106.42

Palladium

Transition metals

Hard, shiny metals that conduct heat and electricity well and often form coloured compounds.

[Kr] 4d¹⁰

Atomic number
46
Atomic mass
106.42
Protons
46
Neutrons
60 (most common)
Electrons
46
Shells
2, 8, 18, 18, 0
State at 25 °C
Solid
Position
Group 10, period 5
Proton (+)Neutron (0)Electron (−)
Discovered byWilliam Hyde Wollaston, 1803William Hyde Wollaston: 2 elements

Wollaston named it after the asteroid Pallas, which had just been discovered.

Did you know?

  • It can soak up about 900 times its own volume of hydrogen.
  • It is a member of the platinum group of metals.

Where it's found

  • Platinum and nickel ores

What it's used for

  • Catalytic converters
  • Electronics
  • Dental fillings

Try it

There's no safe home experiment for Palladium. Explore it with the animated atom above instead.