Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which six elements are classified as platinum-group metals?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The platinum group consists of six transition metals that share similar chemical properties and are often found together in nature. Listed in order of increasing atomic weight, these elements are:

These metals are characterized by their silvery-white appearance—with the exception of osmium, which is bluish-white—and their remarkable resistance to chemical attack, which makes them highly effective as catalysts in various industrial and laboratory processes.12