168 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN SCIENCE. 



soft that for coin and most other purposes it is alloyed with at 

 least 10 per cent, of copper. 



PLATINUM (Pt) is a grayish-white metal, which is very malleable 

 and ductile. It resists the action of most non-metallic substances, 

 and is valuable to the chemist in many ways. It is used for cru- 

 cibles, forceps, tubes, stills, etc. It forms alloys readily, so that 

 it should not be used with easily fusible metals. It is much used 

 in connection with voltaic electricity. None of the platinum com- 

 pounds are of much value. It usually occurs as an alloy with 

 palladium, iridium and other metals. 



