Nickel, palladium and platinum, which are situated in group 10 of the periodic table, are shiny, silvery-white metals of considerable malleability and ductility. When finely divided, they function very efficiently as catalysts.
All three elements are fairly unreactive. None of them oxidize on exposure to air, although they will do so when heated. Heated nickel also reacts with most of the other non-metals, and the element is attacked by most acids, but not by alkalis.
Platinum is less reactive than palladium, although both metals will react with fluorine and chlorine at high temperatures. Both dissolve in aqua regia, although platinum is generally more resistant to attack by acids. This makes it of use in laboratory ware, such as crucibles.
Nickel, like iron and cobalt, its near neighbours in the first transition series, is magnetic; and platinum, like its near neighbours in the third transition series, is an element of great density.
In common with most of the transition elements, the three metals have high melting and boiling points.
