Palladium is an element discovered by the English chemist William H. Wollaston in 1803. It has the chemical symbol Pd, the atomic number 46, and the atomic weight 106.4.
Palladium is a soft, white metal.
It is mainly used as catalyst. Palladium is often used in place of platinum because it is cheaper, harder, and lighter than platinum. It is often mixed with gold to make 'white gold' jewelry. It is also used in making surgical instruments. In industry, palladium can be used in making electrical contacts of electronic components.