Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Precious metal
open-in-new
<p>Precious metals are rare, naturally occurring <a href="/facts/Metal/PT8hNX6R">metallic</a> <a href="/facts/Chemical_element/0jducgWD">chemical elements</a> of high <a href="/facts/Value_(economics)/76jsyB6X">economic value</a>. Precious metals, particularly the <a href="/facts/Noble_metals/Pe9EKIvU">noble metals</a>, are more <a href="/facts/Corrosion/lIC7H4we">corrosion</a> resistant and less <a href="/facts/Reactivity_(chemistry)/PuJ2pmRT">chemically reactive</a> than most elements. They are usually <a href="/facts/Ductile/SBJsahEk">ductile</a> and have a high <a href="/facts/Lustre_(mineralogy)/TCobwMGC">lustre</a>. Historically, precious metals were important as <a href="/facts/Currency/g5GPGfTe">currency</a> but they are now regarded mainly as investment and industrial <a href="/facts/Raw_material/cthCpclF">raw materials</a>. <a href="/facts/Gold/1znknojp">Gold</a>, <a href="/facts/Silver/xXe41BGg">silver</a>, <a href="/facts/Platinum/qJC6lQf7">platinum</a>, and <a href="/facts/Palladium/AXMwDFxs">palladium</a> each have an <a href="/facts/ISO_4217/tk7Y5uh6">ISO 4217</a> currency code. </p><p>The best known precious metals are the precious <a href="/facts/Coinage_metals/KVIkJwCr">coinage metals</a>, which are gold and silver. Although both have industrial uses, they are better known for their uses in <a href="/facts/Art/ILbnQHHb">art</a>, <a href="/facts/Jewellery/DYt7cj0R">jewelry</a>, and coinage. Other precious metals include the <a href="/facts/Platinum_group/pbDgst54">platinum group</a> metals: <a href="/facts/Ruthenium/uzCm4ufn">ruthenium</a>, <a href="/facts/Rhodium/xmBd9aFG">rhodium</a>, <a href="/facts/Palladium/AXMwDFxs">palladium</a>, <a href="/facts/Osmium/1TjXD69n">osmium</a>, <a href="/facts/Iridium/TFQutoj1">iridium</a>, and <a href="/facts/Platinum/qJC6lQf7">platinum</a>, of which platinum is the most widely traded. The demand for precious metals is driven not only by their practical use but also by their role as <a href="/facts/Investment/VrMookcv">investments</a> and a <a href="/facts/Store_of_value/WehIINXC">store of value</a>. Historically, precious metals have commanded much higher prices than common industrial metals. </p>