# Prices of chemical elements

This is a list of prices of chemical elements. Listed here are mainly average market prices for bulk trade of commodities. Data on elements' abundance in Earth's crust is added for comparison.
As of 2020, the most expensive non-synthetic element by both mass and volume is rhodium. It is followed by caesium, iridium and palladium by mass and iridium, gold and platinum by volume. Carbon in the form of diamond can be more expensive than rhodium. Per-kilogram prices of some synthetic radioisotopes range to trillions of dollars. While the difficulty of obtaining macroscopic samples of synthetic elements in part explains their high value, there has been interest in converting base metals to gold (Chrysopoeia) since ancient times, but only deeper understanding of nuclear physics has allowed the actual production of a tiny amount of gold from other elements for research purposes as demonstrated by Glenn Seaborg. However, both this and other routes of synthesis of precious metals via nuclear reactions is orders of magnitude removed from economic viability.
Chlorine, sulfur and carbon (as coal) are cheapest by mass. Hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and chlorine are cheapest by volume at atmospheric pressure.
When there is no public data on the element in its pure form, price of a compound is used, per mass of element contained. This implicitly puts the value of compounds' other constituents, and the cost of extraction of the element, at zero. For elements whose radiological properties are important, individual isotopes and isomers are listed. The price listing for radioisotopes is not exhaustive.

## Chart

| Z | Symbol | Name | Density (⁠kg/L⁠) | Abundance and total mass in Earth's crust (⁠mg/kg⁠) | Price | Price | Year | Source | Notes |
| Z | Symbol | Name | Density (⁠kg/L⁠) | Abundance and total mass in Earth's crust (⁠mg/kg⁠) | USD/kg | USD/L | Year | Source | Notes |
| 1 | H | Hydrogen | 0.00008988 | 1400 (3.878×10$^{19}$ kg) | 1.39 | 0.000125 | 2012 | DOE Hydrogen | |
| 1 | $^2$H (D) | Deuterium | 0.0001667 | | 13400 | 2.23 | 2020 | CIL | |
| 2 | He | Helium | 0.0001785 | 0.008 (2.216×10$^{14}$ kg) | 24.0 | 0.00429 | 2018 | USGS MCS | |
| 3 | Li | Lithium | 0.534 | 20 (5.54×10$^{17}$ kg) | 81.4–85.6 | 43.4–45.7 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 4 | Be | Beryllium | 1.85 | 2.8 (7.756×10$^{16}$ kg) | 857 | 1590 | 2020 | ISE 2020 | |
| 5 | B | Boron | 2.34 | 10 (2.77×10$^{17}$ kg) | 3.68 | 8.62 | 2019 | CEIC Data | |
| 6 | C | Carbon | 2.267 | 200 (5.54×10$^{18}$ kg) | 0.122 | 0.28 | 2018 | EIA Coal | |
| 7 | N | Nitrogen | 0.0012506 | 19 (5.263×10$^{17}$ kg) | 0.140 | 0.000175 | 2001 | Hypertextbook | |
| 8 | O | Oxygen | 0.001429 | 461000 (1.277×10$^{22}$ kg) | 0.154 | 0.000220 | 2001 | Hypertextbook | |
| 9 | F | Fluorine | 0.001696 | 585 (1.62×10$^{19}$ kg) | 1.84–2.16 | 0.00311 – 0.00365 | 2017 | Echemi | |
| 10 | Ne | Neon | 0.0008999 | 0.005 (1.385×10$^{14}$ kg) | 240 | 0.21 | 1999 | Ullmann | |
| 11 | Na | Sodium | 0.971 | 23600 (6.537×10$^{20}$ kg) | 2.57–3.43 | 2.49–3.33 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 12 | Mg | Magnesium | 1.738 | 23300 (6.454×10$^{20}$ kg) | 2.32 | 4.03 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 13 | Al | Aluminium | 2.698 | 82300 (2.28×10$^{21}$ kg) | 1.79 | 4.84 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 14 | Si | Silicon | 2.3296 | 282000 (7.811×10$^{21}$ kg) | 1.70 | 3.97 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 15 | P | Phosphorus | 1.82 | 1050 (2.909×10$^{19}$ kg) | 2.69 | 4.90 | 2019 | CEIC Data | |
| 16 | S | Sulfur | 2.067 | 350 (9.695×10$^{18}$ kg) | 0.0926 | 0.191 | 2019 | CEIC Data | |
| 17 | Cl | Chlorine | 0.003214 | 145 (4.075×10$^{18}$ kg) | 0.082 | 0.00026 | 2013 | CnAgri | |
| 18 | Ar | Argon | 0.0017837 | 3.5 (9.695×10$^{16}$ kg) | 0.931 | 0.00166 | 2019 | UNLV | |
| 19 | K | Potassium | 0.862 | 20900 (5.789×10$^{20}$ kg) | 12.1–13.6 | 10.5–11.7 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 20 | Ca | Calcium | 1.54 | 41500 (1.15×10$^{21}$ kg) | 2.21–2.35 | 3.41–3.63 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 21 | Sc | Scandium | 2.989 | 22 (6.094×10$^{17}$ kg) | 3460 | 10300 | 2020 | ISE 2020 | |
| 22 | Ti | Titanium | 4.54 | 5650 (1.565×10$^{20}$ kg) | 11.1–11.7 | 50.5–53.1 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 23 | V | Vanadium | 6.11 | 120 (3.324×10$^{18}$ kg) | 357–385 | 2180–2350 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 24 | Cr | Chromium | 7.15 | 102 (2.825×10$^{18}$ kg) | 9.40 | 67.2 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 25 | Mn | Manganese | 7.44 | 950 (2.632×10$^{19}$ kg) | 1.82 | 13.6 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 26 | Fe | Iron | 7.874 | 56300 (1.565×10$^{21}$ kg) | 0.424 | 3.34 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 27 | Co | Cobalt | 8.86 | 25 (6.925×10$^{17}$ kg) | 32.8 | 291 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 28 | Ni | Nickel | 8.912 | 84 (2.327×10$^{18}$ kg) | 13.9 | 124 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 29 | Cu | Copper | 8.96 | 60 (1.662×10$^{18}$ kg) | 6.00 | 53.8 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 30 | Zn | Zinc | 7.134 | 70 (1.939×10$^{18}$ kg) | 2.55 | 18.2 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 31 | Ga | Gallium | 5.907 | 19 (5.263×10$^{17}$ kg) | 148 | 872 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 32 | Ge | Germanium | 5.323 | 1.5 (4.155×10$^{16}$ kg) | 914–1010 | 4860–5390 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 33 | As | Arsenic | 5.776 | 1.8 (4.986×10$^{16}$ kg) | 0.999–1.31 | 5.77–7.58 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 34 | Se | Selenium | 4.809 | 0.05 (1.385×10$^{15}$ kg) | 21.4 | 103 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 35 | Br | Bromine | 3.122 | 2.4 (6.648×10$^{16}$ kg) | 4.39 | 13.7 | 2019 | CEIC Data | |
| 36 | Kr | Krypton | 0.003733 | 1×10$^{−4}$ (2.77×10$^{12}$ kg) | 290 | 1.1 | 1999 | Ullmann | |
| 37 | Rb | Rubidium | 1.532 | 90 (2.493×10$^{18}$ kg) | 15500 | 23700 | 2018 | USGS MCS | |
| 38 | Sr | Strontium | 2.64 | 370 (1.025×10$^{19}$ kg) | 6.53–6.68 | 17.2–17.6 | 2019 | ISE 2019 | |
| 39 | Y | Yttrium | 4.469 | 33 (9.141×10$^{17}$ kg) | 31.0 | 139 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 40 | Zr | Zirconium | 6.506 | 165 (4.571×10$^{18}$ kg) | 35.7–37.1 | 232–241 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 41 | Nb | Niobium | 8.57 | 20 (5.54×10$^{17}$ kg) | 61.4–85.6 | 526–734 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 42 | Mo | Molybdenum | 10.22 | 1.2 (3.324×10$^{16}$ kg) | 40.1 | 410 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 43 | Tc | Technetium | 11.5 | ~ 3×10$^{−9}$ (8.31×10$^7$ kg) | 100000 | 1200000 | 2004 | CRC Handbook | |
| 43 | $^{99m}$Tc | Technetium-99m | 11.5 | | 1.9×10$^{12}$ | 22×10$^{12}$ | 2008 | NRC | |
| 44 | Ru | Ruthenium | 12.37 | 0.001 (2.77×10$^{13}$ kg) | 10400 – 10600 | 129000 – 131000 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 45 | Rh | Rhodium | 12.41 | 0.001 (2.77×10$^{13}$ kg) | 147000 | 1820000 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 46 | Pd | Palladium | 12.02 | 0.015 (4.155×10$^{14}$ kg) | 49500 | 595000 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 47 | Ag | Silver | 10.501 | 0.075 (2.0775×10$^{15}$ kg) | 521 | 5470 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 48 | Cd | Cadmium | 8.69 | 0.159 (4.4043×10$^{15}$ kg) | 2.73 | 23.8 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 49 | In | Indium | 7.31 | 0.25 (6.925×10$^{15}$ kg) | 167 | 1220 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 50 | Sn | Tin | 7.287 | 2.3 (6.371×10$^{16}$ kg) | 18.7 | 136 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 51 | Sb | Antimony | 6.685 | 0.2 (5.54×10$^{15}$ kg) | 5.79 | 38.7 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 52 | Te | Tellurium | 6.232 | 0.001 (2.77×10$^{13}$ kg) | 63.5 | 396 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 53 | I | Iodine | 4.93 | 0.45 (1.2465×10$^{16}$ kg) | 35 | 173 | 2019 | Industrial Minerals | |
| 54 | Xe | Xenon | 0.005887 | 3×10$^{−5}$ (8.31×10$^{11}$ kg) | 1800 | 11 | 1999 | Ullmann | |
| 55 | Cs | Caesium | 1.873 | 3 (8.31×10$^{16}$ kg) | 61800 | 116000 | 2018 | USGS MCS | |
| 56 | Ba | Barium | 3.594 | 425 (1.177×10$^{19}$ kg) | 0.246–0.275 | 0.886–0.990 | 2016 | USGS MYB 2016 | |
| 57 | La | Lanthanum | 6.145 | 39 (1.08×10$^{18}$ kg) | 4.78–4.92 | 29.4–30.3 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 58 | Ce | Cerium | 6.77 | 66.5 (1.84205×10$^{18}$ kg) | 4.57–4.71 | 30.9–31.9 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 59 | Pr | Praseodymium | 6.773 | 9.2 (2.5484×10$^{17}$ kg) | 103 | 695 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 60 | Nd | Neodymium | 7.007 | 41.5 (1.14955×10$^{18}$ kg) | 57.5 | 403 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 61 | $^{147}$Pm | Promethium-147 | 7.26 | | 460000 | 3400000 | 2003 | Radiochemistry Society | |
| 62 | Sm | Samarium | 7.52 | 7.05 (1.95285×10$^{17}$ kg) | 13.9 | 104 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 63 | Eu | Europium | 5.243 | 2 (5.54×10$^{16}$ kg) | 31.4 | 165 | 2020 | ISE 2020 | |
| 64 | Gd | Gadolinium | 7.895 | 6.2 (1.7174×10$^{17}$ kg) | 28.6 | 226 | 2020 | ISE 2020 | |
| 65 | Tb | Terbium | 8.229 | 1.2 (3.324×10$^{16}$ kg) | 658 | 5410 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 66 | Dy | Dysprosium | 8.55 | 5.2 (1.4404×10$^{17}$ kg) | 307 | 2630 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 67 | Ho | Holmium | 8.795 | 1.3 (3.601×10$^{16}$ kg) | 57.1 | 503 | 2020 | ISE 2020 | |
| 68 | Er | Erbium | 9.066 | 3.5 (9.695×10$^{16}$ kg) | 26.4 | 240 | 2020 | ISE 2020 | |
| 69 | Tm | Thulium | 9.321 | 0.52 (1.4404×10$^{16}$ kg) | 3000 | 28000 | 2003 | IMAR | |
| 70 | Yb | Ytterbium | 6.965 | 3.2 (8.864×10$^{16}$ kg) | 17.1 | 119 | 2020 | ISE 2020 | |
| 71 | Lu | Lutetium | 9.84 | 0.8 (2.216×10$^{16}$ kg) | 643 | 6330 | 2020 | ISE 2020 | |
| 72 | Hf | Hafnium | 13.31 | 3 (8.31×10$^{16}$ kg) | 900 | 12000 | 2017 | USGS MCS | |
| 73 | Ta | Tantalum | 16.654 | 2 (5.54×10$^{16}$ kg) | 298–312 | 4960–5200 | 2019 | ISE 2019 | |
| 74 | W | Tungsten | 19.25 | 1.3 (3.601×10$^{16}$ kg) | 35.3 | 679 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 75 | Re | Rhenium | 21.02 | 7×10$^{−4}$ (1.939×10$^{13}$ kg) | 3010–4150 | 63300 – 87300 | 2020 | SMM | |
| 76 | Os | Osmium | 22.61 | 0.002 (5.54×10$^{13}$ kg) | 12000 | 280000 | 2016 | Fastmarkets | |
| 77 | Ir | Iridium | 22.56 | 0.001 (2.77×10$^{13}$ kg) | 144000 | 3276000 | 2025 | Umicore | |
| 78 | Pt | Platinum | 21.46 | 0.005 (1.385×10$^{14}$ kg) | 27800 | 596000 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 79 | Au | Gold | 19.282 | 0.004 (1.108×10$^{14}$ kg) | 75430 | 1454441 | 2024 | London gold fix | |
| 80 | Hg | Mercury | 13.5336 | 0.085 (2.3545×10$^{15}$ kg) | 30.2 | 409 | 2017 | USGS MCS | |
| 81 | Tl | Thallium | 11.85 | 0.85 (2.3545×10$^{16}$ kg) | 4200 | 49800 | 2017 | USGS MCS | |
| 82 | Pb | Lead | 11.342 | 14 (3.878×10$^{17}$ kg) | 2.00 | 22.6 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 83 | Bi | Bismuth | 9.807 | 0.009 (2.493×10$^{14}$ kg) | 6.36 | 62.4 | 2019 | Preismonitor | |
| 84 | $^{209}$Po | Polonium-209 | 9.32 | | 49.2×10$^{12}$ | 458×10$^{12}$ | 2004 | CRC Handbook (ORNL) | |
| 85 | At | Astatine | 7 | 3×10$^{−20}$ (8.31×10$^{−4}$ kg) | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 86 | Rn | Radon | 0.00973 | 4×10$^{−13}$ (1.108×10$^4$ kg) | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 87 | Fr | Francium | 1.87 | ~ 1×10$^{−18}$ (2.77×10$^{−2}$ kg) | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 88 | Ra | Radium | 5.5 | 9×10$^{−7}$ (2.493×10$^{10}$ kg) | Negative price. | Negative price. | Negative price. | Negative price. | |
| 89 | $^{225}$Ac | Actinium-225 | 10.07 | | 29×10$^{12}$ | 290×10$^{12}$ | 2004 | CRC Handbook (ORNL) | |
| 90 | Th | Thorium | 11.72 | 9.6 (2.6592×10$^{17}$ kg) | 287 | 3360 | 2010 | USGS MYB 2012 | |
| 91 | Pa | Protactinium | 15.37 | 1.4×10$^{−6}$ (3.878×10$^{10}$ kg) | No reliable price available. | No reliable price available. | No reliable price available. | No reliable price available. | |
| 92 | U | Uranium | 18.95 | 2.7 (7.479×10$^{16}$ kg) | 101 | 1910 | 2018 | EIA Uranium Marketing | |
| 93 | Np | Neptunium | 20.45 | ≤ 3×10$^{−12}$ (8.31×10$^4$ kg) | 660000 | 13500000 | 2003 | Pomona | |
| 94 | $^{239}$Pu | Plutonium-239 | 19.84 | | 6490000 | 129000000 | 2019 | DOE OSTI | |
| 95 | $^{241}$Am | Americium-241 | 13.69 | 0 | 728000 | 9970000 | 1998 | NWA | |
| 95 | $^{243}$Am | Americium-243 | 13.69 | 0 | 750000 | 10300000 | 2004 | CRC Handbook (ORNL) | |
| 96 | $^{244}$Cm | Curium-244 | 13.51 | 0 | 185000000 | 2.50×10$^9$ | 2004 | CRC Handbook (ORNL) | |
| 96 | $^{248}$Cm | Curium-248 | 13.51 | 0 | 160×10$^9$ | 2.16×10$^{12}$ | 2004 | CRC Handbook (ORNL) | |
| 97 | $^{249}$Bk | Berkelium-249 | 14.79 | 0 | 185×10$^9$ | 2.74×10$^{12}$ | 2004 | CRC Handbook (ORNL) | |
| 98 | $^{249}$Cf | Californium-249 | 15.1 | 0 | 185×10$^9$ | 2.79×10$^{12}$ | 2004 | CRC Handbook (ORNL) | |
| 98 | $^{252}$Cf | Californium-252 | 15.1 | 0 | 60.0×10$^9$ | 906×10$^9$ | 2004 | CRC Handbook (ORNL) | |
| 99 | Es | Einsteinium | 8.84 | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 100 | Fm | Fermium | (9.7) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 101 | Md | Mendelevium | (10.3) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 102 | No | Nobelium | (9.9) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 103 | Lr | Lawrencium | (15.6) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 104 | Rf | Rutherfordium | (23.2) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 105 | Db | Dubnium | (29.3) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 106 | Sg | Seaborgium | (35.0) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 107 | Bh | Bohrium | (37.1) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 108 | Hs | Hassium | (40.7) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 109 | Mt | Meitnerium | (37.4) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 110 | Ds | Darmstadtium | (34.8) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 111 | Rg | Roentgenium | (28.7) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 112 | Cn | Copernicium | (14.0) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 113 | Nh | Nihonium | (16) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 114 | Fl | Flerovium | (9.928) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 115 | Mc | Moscovium | (13.5) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 116 | Lv | Livermorium | (12.9) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 117 | Ts | Tennessine | (7.2) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |
| 118 | Og | Oganesson | (7) | 0 | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | Not traded. | |