Platinum is a noble metal, most abundantly and widely used in form of Laboratory ware like Crucibles and Dishes. It is soft, ductile, white metal which is almost inert in normal atmosphere and resists oxidation at a high tempreture remaining bright at all temperatures upto its high melting point of 1769 ^oC. It resists the action of almost all single acids, alkalies, solutions of simple salts and organic materials. Platinum can be heated in oxidising condition without change of weight. These excellent properties make platinum indespensible metal to be used for fabrication of laboratory apparatus like crucibles, dishes and other accessories for accurate chemical analysis.

It is possible to make these apparatus in Platinum/Rhodium or Platinum/Iridium alloys, we can fabricate special shapes and sizes of crucibles, dishes or any other type of vessel to customer's requirements.

Due to its extremely inert characterstics, platinum rarely undergoes chemical attack. However, there are exceptional circumstances which would damage laboratory apparatus made of platinum and reduce its otherwise long life. Simple precautions and systamic handling of the apparatus can lead to substantial saving on the long run.

Aqua regia, hydrochloric acid plus oxidising agents will attack platinum, as will free halogens to some degree at elevated temperatures. A few low melting metals including lead, tin, antimony, zinc and arsenic will readily alloy with and attack platinum at their melting temperatures. Low melting point phases are formed with silicon, pohsphorus, bismuth and boron salts or compounds of these metals which could be detrimental at high temperatures under reducing conditions. Fuse alkali oxides, hydroxides and peroxides attack platinum readily, so also does fused cyanides and their use should be avoided.

Cleaning of platinum vessels is best achieved by treating them in fused potassium bisulphate followed by boiling water. Boiling in dilute hydrochloric acid also sometimes serve the purpose. The dullness of surface of platinum vessels during use in no way harmful for the apparatus and polishing should be avoided since this would only mean loss of precious metal.