Platinum
appears silvery-white when pure, and firm. The metal is
corrosion-resistant. Platinum's wear and tarnish-resistance
characteristics are well suited for making fine jewelry. Platinum is
more precious than gold. The price of platinum changes along with its
availability. In the 18th century, platinum's rarity made King Louis XV
of France declare it the only metal fit for a king.
Gold readily forms alloys with many other metals. These alloys can be
produced to increase the hardness or to create exotic colors. Adding
copper yields a redder metal, iron blue, aluminium purple, platinum
metals white, and natural bismuth together with silver alloys produce
black.
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