Natural palladium contains six stable isotopes. Twenty five other isotopes are recognized, all of which are radioactive. It is also found associated with the nickel-copper deposits of South Africa and Ontario. Its separation from the platinum metals depends upon the type of ore in which it is found. It is a steel-white metal, does not tarnish in air, and is the least dense and lowest melting of the platinum group of metals.
Palladium is attacked by nitric and sulfuric acid.
It is not yet clear if this a true compound. Hydrogen readily diffuses through heated palladium and this provides a means of purifying the gas. Finely divided palladium is a good catalyst and is used for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions. It is alloyed and used in jewelry trades. White gold is an alloy of gold decolorized by the addition of palladium.