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Platinum has a greyish white appearance and is one of the least reactive elements in existence. It is very resistant to corrosion in air and can be polished with abrasive materials without losing its properties. It is also highly resistant to chemical attack.
The platinum metals are often regarded as a single group, however the chemistry of this group is quite diverse. This is well illustrated by the fluorides. The oxide fluorides of the group metals exhibit a wide range of characteristics. The fluorides of the platinum metals are very interesting.
These compounds are usually stable but when heated they decompose releasing a gas, silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4). In the case of platinum tetrafluoride, it decomposes to form an orange coloured precipitate of platinum dioxide and fluorine. This can be reacted with nitric oxide to form the gas nitric oxide/platinum(IV) fluoride. This compound is also capable of reacting with iodine to form the salt iodoplatinum(IV) fluoride.
The hexafluoride of platinum, PtF6, is the most well known of these compounds. It was first prepared in 1960 by R.T. Sanderson and has been a major focus of work since that time. A great deal of new information has been obtained on the structure and properties of this material. The higher fluorides are less readily available but a number of these have been discovered or characterised in the last fifteen years. The hexafluorides of ruthenium (RuF6), osmium (OsF6) and rhodium (RhF6) have been prepared and characterized.
