noble metal
- Scope note
- Metal or alloy that is resistant to oxidation, corrosion, and dissolution by acids. Noble metals remain bright when heated in air. Examples of noble metals are gold, iridium, mercury, osmium, platinum, and ruthenium. In physics, noble metals are restricted to those having filled electronic d-bands: according to this definition in physics, only gold, silver, and copper are noble metals. Many noble metals are also precious metals, due to their rarity in the Earth's crust.
- Date of creation: 29-Apr-2024
Accepted term: 29-Apr-2024