46PdPalladium106.421[Kr] 4d¹⁰
transition metal

Palladium

Palladium is a chemical element with symbol Pd and atomic number 46. It is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston. He named it after the asteroid Pallas, which was itself named after the epithet of the Greek goddess Athena, acquired by her when she slew Pallas.

Electronic structure

A stylized shell model. Electrons are quantum objects, not particles following these literal paths. Sizes and motion are illustrative.

Electrons by shell
Electron configuration
4d10

36 is the [Kr] core total across four shells.

Properties

At a glance

Atomic number
46
Atomic mass
106.421 u
Phase
Solid
Density
12.023 g/cm³
Melting point
1,828.05 K
Boiling point
3,236 K
First ionization energy
804.4 kJ/mol
Electronegativity
2.2
Electron affinity
54.24 kJ/mol
Molar heat capacity
25.98 J/(mol·K)
Period
5
Appearance
silvery white

Conditions and isotopes affect measured properties. Some properties of short-lived elements are predicted. Electronegativity uses the Pauling scale.

Keep exploring

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