Palladium is attacked by nitric and sulfuric acid. It is not yet clear if this is 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 hydrogentation and dehydrogenation reactions. It is alloyed and used in jewelry trades.
White gold is an alloy of gold decolorized by the addition of palladium.
The metal is used in dentistry, watchmaking, and in making surgical instruments and electrical contacts.