Many mistakenly believe that the most expensive metals in the world - This is platinum, gold and silver. But in fact, there are other dense chemical elements that are hundreds of times superior in value. High price is determined by such indicators as rarity, inaccessibility and properties.
10. Ruthenium | The cost of 1 gram is 1.5 US dollars
Ruthenium opens the top ten most expensive metals. The bright silver chemical element is characterized by refractoriness, hardness and brittleness. Ruthenium is one of the rarest elements of the platinum group. It was first discovered by Professor Karl Klaus, who conducted research at Kazan University in 1844. The name of the element comes from the Latin Ruthenia, which means Russia / Russia. Ruthenium is actively used in jewelry, electronic and chemical industries.
It is used for the manufacture of electrodes, wires, contacts, etc. The element also produces chlorine and alkali. The cost of 1 gram of metal is currently estimated at 1.5 US dollars.
9. Rhenium | The cost of 1 gram is 10 US dollars
Ninth place among the most expensive metals in the world rhenium. A silver-white dense chemical element is also considered one of the rarest, inaccessible and sought-after isotopes. Because of its high density, rhenium is one of the most refractory metals. Since the discovery of the element (1925), it has been actively used in the chemical and electronic industries.
Alloys for jet engine nozzles, turbine blades, rocket technology, etc. are made from it. This is the only refractory element that does not form carbides. On average, 1 gram of rhenium is estimated at $ 10.
8. Scandium | The cost of 1 gram - 12 US dollars
Scandium is one of the most expensive metals in the world of the Earth. The silver element with a yellow tint was first discovered in 1879, thanks to the Swedish scientist Lars Nielson, who named it after Scandinavia. The most valuable isotope is used in innovative technologies in the design of rockets, robots, laser technology, satellites and aircraft.
Sports equipment is made from alloys with this element. The largest scandium deposits are concentrated in Madagascar and Norway. One gram of metal is valued at $ 12.
7. Iridium | The cost of 1 gram is $ 20
Iridium ranks seventh among the most expensive metals in the world. The silver-white isotope looks like tin. It is very heavy, hard and fragile. Iridium is most often used for the manufacture of alloys with other metals, for example, with platinum. Jewelry made of this alloy is highly durable and very beautiful. Iridium is widely used in the manufacture of electrical contacts, precision chemical balances and surgical instruments.
The world learned about metal thanks to the British chemist S. Tennath, who discovered it in 1803. Currently, about a ton of iridium is consumed annually. South Africa is its supplier - this is where the field is concentrated. One gram of the isotope is estimated at about $ 20.
6. Palladium | The cost of 1 gram is 30 US dollars
Palladium - one of the most expensive metals in the world, which belongs to the platinum group. The silver-white isotope is characterized by fusibility and ductility. It is highly polishable, does not lose its luster over time and is resistant to corrosion. It was discovered by British chemist William Wollaston in 1803. The scientist decided to separate the unknown metal from the platinum ore that arrived from South Africa.
Now palladium is actively used for the manufacture of jewelry of various price categories. It is also widely used in medicine and industry, due to its anti-corrosion properties. One gram of metal costs about $ 30.
5. Gold | The cost of 1 gram is $ 45
Gold located in the middle of the tens of the most expensive metals in the world. In nature, a noble isotope is found exclusively in its pure form. Due to its ductility and durability, gold is considered one of the most popular metals used for the manufacture of jewelry. In addition, it is used in the electronics industry and dentistry.
Some of the most expensive investment coins are minted in gold. The cost of 1 gram of a noble element is estimated at $ 45.
4. Platinum | The cost of 1 gram is $ 70
Platinum ranks fourth among the most expensive and noble metals in the world. It is a natural alloy of six isotopes, which has a silver-white hue. Platinum is one of the rarest elements. Its deposits are found mainly in Russia, the USA, China, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Platinum is used not only for the production of jewelry, but also for medical and industrial purposes.
Previously, metal was classified as low-quality silver and was often used to fake silver and gold products. To date, 1 gram of platinum is estimated at $ 70 on average.
3. Rhodium | The cost of 1 gram is 225 US dollars
Rhodium opens the top three most expensive metals in the world. Since it has high reflective abilities, it is used in the manufacture of glasses and mirrors. In addition, it is used for the production and processing of jewelry.
Rhodium gives the products shine and does not allow them to darken, due to the high resistance to oxidation. One gram of the isotope is currently estimated at 225 US dollars.
2. Osmium-187 | The cost of 1 gram is 200,000 US dollars
Osmium-187 ranks second among the most expensive metals in the world. Its extraction is associated with some difficulties and takes about 9 months. One of the rarest isotopes in the form of black fine crystalline powder is the densest substance on the planet. But despite this, the most valuable element is quite fragile.
Osmium-187 is of great importance for scientific research, since it is used as a catalyst for chemical reactions, as well as for the production of measuring instruments with high accuracy. The cost of 1 gram of osmium-187 is 200 thousand US dollars.
1. California-252 | The cost of 1 gram is 6.5 million US dollars
Tops the list of the most expensive metals in the world california 252. The cost of 1 gram of precious California is estimated at 6.5 million dollars. About 30-40 micrograms of an element are produced annually, which justifies its overpriced. For all time, only 8 grams of California-252 was produced. It was first received at a university in California in 1951. Now it is created in the laboratory using nuclear reactors in Russia and the United States.
Uniqueness the isotope is its emitted energy, the power of which can be compared with the average nuclear reactor. It is actively used in medicine and nuclear physics.
Using California-252, the treatment of malignant tumors is performed. The metal is able to detect damage in reactors and aircraft structures that could not detect x-rays. In addition, the most expensive element is used to detect new deposits of oil, gold and silver.