List of Noble Metals

Which Metals Are Noble Metals?

Iridium is one of the noble metals.
Iridium is one of the noble metals. Greenhorn1, Public Domain License
By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on June 06, 2019

Here is a list of noble metals, which are metals that resist oxidation and corrosion.

  • Ruthenium
  • Rhodium
  • Palladium
  • Silver
  • Osmium
  • Iridium
  • Platinum
  • Gold
Platinum is an example of a noble metal.
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Noble Metals List and Properties
By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Some lists include mercury as a noble metal. Rhenium is also included as a noble metal by some scientists and engineers.

While noble metals retain their shiny color, base metals tend to oxidize in moist air. However, some metals that resist corrosion are not considered noble metals. These include titanium, niobium, and tantalum.

In atomic physics, the noble metal group consists of copper, silver, and gold. Only these three elements have completely filled d-subshells.

Most noble metals are valuable and rare, yet the noble metals are not exactly the same as the precious metals. See a chart of noble and precious metals.

Source

  • Brooks, Robert R., ed. (1992). Noble Metals and Biological Systems: Their Role in Medicine, Mineral Exploration, and the Environment. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press. ISBN 9780849361647.
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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "List of Noble Metals." ThoughtCo, Aug. 25, 2020, thoughtco.com/list-of-noble-metals-608442. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 25). List of Noble Metals. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/list-of-noble-metals-608442 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "List of Noble Metals." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/list-of-noble-metals-608442 (accessed April 23, 2024).