palladium

¹ American  

[puh-ley-dee-uhm] / pəˈleɪ di əm /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a rare metallic element of the platinum group, silver-white, ductile and malleable, harder and fusing more readily than platinum: used chiefly as a catalyst and in dental and other alloys. Pd; 106.4; 46; 12 at 20°C.

---

Palladium ² American  

[puh-ley-dee-uhm] / pəˈleɪ di əm /

noun

plural

Palladia

1. Also Palladion a statue of Athena, especially one on the citadel of Troy on which the safety of the city was supposed to depend.

2. (usually lowercase) anything believed to provide protection or safety; safeguard.

---

palladium ¹ British  

/ pəˈleɪdɪəm /

noun

1. a ductile malleable silvery-white element of the platinum metal group occurring principally in nickel-bearing ores: used as a hydrogenation catalyst and, alloyed with gold, in jewellery. Symbol: Pd; atomic no: 46; atomic wt: 106.42; valency: 2, 3, or 4; relative density: 1202; melting pt: 1555°C; boiling pt: 2964°C

---

Palladium ² British  

/ pəˈleɪdɪəm /

noun

1. a statue of Pallas Athena, esp the one upon which the safety of Troy depended

---

palladium ³ British  

/ pəˈleɪdɪəm /

noun

1. something believed to ensure protection; safeguard

---

palladium Scientific  

/ pə-lā′dē-əm /

1. A malleable, ductile, grayish-white metallic element that occurs naturally with platinum. It is used as a catalyst in hydrogenation and in alloys for making electrical contacts and jewelry. Atomic number 46; atomic weight 106.4; melting point 1,552°C; boiling point 3,140°C; specific gravity 12.02 (20°C); valence 2, 3, 4.

2. See Periodic Table

---

Etymology

Origin of palladium¹

Special use of Palladium; named (1803) after the asteroid Pallas, then newly discovered; -ium

Origin of Palladium¹

< Latin Palladium < Greek Palládion, noun use of neuter of Palládios of Pallas, equivalent to Pallad- (stem of Pallás ) Pallas + -ios adj. suffix

Example Sentences

That would be supportive for hybrid vehicles and palladium demand.

From The Wall Street Journal

The falls came after exchange operator CME Group increased margin requirements for the two metals along with platinum and palladium futures in response to recent volatility.

From The Wall Street Journal

Precious metals include gold and silver, of course, but also palladium, for its rarity, high value, and corrosion resistance, even though demand for it is dominated by the car industry.

From Barron's

The price of platinum and palladium have also climbed this year.

From BBC

Similar to traditional palladium-based catalysis, the behavior of photoexcited palladium catalysts is highly dependent on the phosphine ligand attached to the metal.

From Science Daily