Precious Metals

The name of chemically resistant metals, which include platinum group metals (ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum) as well as silver and gold (metals from the copper group). Precious metals react weakly with other elements, which is why they do not corrode, do not dissolve in most acids, and do not react with water in any state. They may be affected by oxidizing acids. Most precious metals dissolve in aqua regia.