Precious metal

:For the town in France, see Bullion, Yvelines.

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A precious metal is a rare metallic element of high, durable economic value.

Related Topics:
Metallic - Element

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Chemically, the precious metals are less reactive than most elements, have high luster, and have higher melting points than other metals. Economically, the precious metals have been historically important as currency, and remain important as investment commodities.

Related Topics:
Reactive - Luster - Melting point - Currency - Commodities

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The best-known precious metals are gold and silver. While both have industrial uses, they are better known for their uses in art, jewelry, and coinage. Other precious metals include the Platinum group metals: ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum, of which platinum is the most widely traded. Plutonium and uranium could also be considered precious metals.

Related Topics:
Gold - Silver - Art - Jewelry - Coinage - Platinum group - Ruthenium - Rhodium - Palladium - Osmium - Iridium - Platinum - Plutonium - Uranium

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The demand for precious metals is driven not only by their practical use, but also by their value as investments. Palladium is, as of September 2005, valued (200 USD/ounce) at a little over half the price of gold (460 USD/ounce), and platinum (930 USD/ounce) at more than twice that of gold. Silver is substantially less expensive (7.27 USD/ounce) than these metals, presently at 1/64 the price of gold, but is often traditionally considered a precious metal for its role in coinage and jewelry.

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