Group 10 element facts for kids

Group 10 is a special collection of elements found in the periodic table. Think of the periodic table as a big chart that organizes all the known elements in the universe!

This group includes four interesting elements: nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), and darmstadtium (Ds). These elements are all part of the transition metals section of the periodic table. While we know a lot about nickel, palladium, and platinum, darmstadtium is a bit of a mystery. Scientists believe it's also a transition metal, but its exact chemical properties are still unknown because it's very hard to study.

What are Transition Metals?

Transition metals are a large group of elements in the middle of the periodic table. They are known for being strong, shiny, and good at conducting electricity and heat. Many of them are also very useful in everyday life. Elements in Group 10 share many of these cool properties.

Meet the Elements of Group 10

Let's take a closer look at each element in Group 10 and what makes them special.

Nickel (Ni)

Nickel is a silvery-white, shiny metal that is very strong and resistant to rust. It's a common element and has been used by humans for a long time.

Uses of Nickel

• Coins: Many coins around the world contain nickel, which makes them durable.
• Stainless Steel: Nickel is mixed with iron and other metals to make stainless steel. This type of steel doesn't rust easily, which is why it's used for kitchen sinks, cutlery, and even buildings.
• Batteries: Nickel is an important part of some types of rechargeable batteries, like those found in many electronic devices.
• Jewelry: Sometimes, nickel is used in jewelry, especially in white gold alloys.

Palladium (Pd)

Palladium is a rare and precious silvery-white metal. It's known for being very good at absorbing hydrogen gas and for its ability to speed up chemical reactions.

Uses of Palladium

• Catalytic Converters: One of the most important uses of palladium is in catalytic converters in cars. These devices help clean up harmful gases from car exhaust, making the air cleaner.
• Jewelry: Because it's rare and beautiful, palladium is used in jewelry, often as an alternative to platinum.
• Dentistry: It can be found in some dental fillings and crowns.
• Electronics: Small amounts of palladium are used in electronic components like connectors.

Platinum (Pt)

Platinum is another very rare and valuable silvery-white metal. It's even more precious than gold! Platinum is very dense, meaning it's heavy for its size, and it doesn't corrode or tarnish, even when exposed to air or water.

Uses of Platinum

• Jewelry: Platinum is highly prized for jewelry because of its beauty, durability, and resistance to tarnish.
• Laboratory Equipment: Because it doesn't react with many chemicals, platinum is used to make special containers and tools for science labs.
• Medicine: Some important anti-cancer medicines contain platinum compounds.
• Catalysts: Like palladium, platinum is also used in catalytic converters and other industrial processes to speed up chemical reactions.

Darmstadtium (Ds)

Darmstadtium is a very different kind of element compared to the others in Group 10. It's a synthetic element, which means it doesn't exist naturally on Earth. Scientists create it in special laboratories by smashing smaller atoms together.

Properties of Darmstadtium

• Superheavy: Darmstadtium is a "superheavy" element, meaning its atoms have a very large number of protons and neutrons.
• Radioactive: It's highly radioactive and decays very quickly into other elements. This means it doesn't last long at all.
• Unknown Properties: Because it's so unstable and only tiny amounts can be made, scientists haven't been able to study its chemical properties directly. However, based on its position in the periodic table, they predict it would behave like a heavy transition metal, similar to platinum.

See also

In Spanish: Elementos del grupo 10 para niños