Everything Everywhere Daily cover image

Everything Everywhere Daily

Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium: The Other Precious Metals

Apr 14, 2025
Discover the intriguing world of platinum, palladium, and rhodium—rarer and often more valuable than gold. Dive into their historical significance and the notable figures behind their discovery. Explore how these precious metals play a crucial role in emission control within catalytic converters, and learn about the alarming trend of catalytic converter theft driven by their high market value. This exploration unveils the hidden gems of the metal world, showcasing their unique qualities and industrial importance.
16:32

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Platinum, palladium, and rhodium are critical in reducing vehicle emissions through catalytic converters, highlighting their environmental significance and industrial demand.
  • Unlike gold and silver, these rare metals have unique histories and properties that underscore their rising value and essential roles in technology.

Deep dives

The Significance of Platinum Group Metals

Platinum, palladium, and rhodium stand out as extremely valuable and rare metals, each with unique properties that contribute to their high demand in various industries. Unlike gold and silver, which are well-known, these metals often play pivotal roles in advanced technological applications, particularly in catalytic converters that reduce vehicle emissions. Their rarity also adds to their value, with rhodium being one of the most scarce at only 0.7 parts per billion in the Earth's crust. As a result, these metals command high market prices, reflecting both their scarcity and critical industrial applications.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner