six noble, precious metallic elements clustered together in the periodic table. The six platinum-group metals are ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum.
Acronym: PGM
synonyms: platinoids, platinides, platidises, platinum group, platinum metals, platinum family or platinum-group elements
note: The PGMs are generally derived from the same types of ore deposit in which they occur together, commonly in the same mineral phases. For this reason, they are classed as co-products, because they have to be mined together. They rarely occur in native form. The PGMs are highly resistant to wear, tarnish, chemical attack and high temperature. The PGMs are regarded as precious metals, like gold and silver. All PGMs, commonly alloyed with one another or with other metals, can act as catalysts which are exploited in a wide range of applications. Platinum and palladium are of major commercial significance, with rhodium the next most important. The main use of PGMs is in autocatalysis, but other major applications include jewellery, chemical manufacture, petroleum refining and electrical products.