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.
The metal is used in dentistry, watchmaking, and in making surgical instruments and electrical contacts. Use Palladium is used in gold, silver and copper alloys in dentistry. Alloys are also used for bearings, strings, and balance wheels in watches. Palladium is used as a catalyst in the manufacture of sulfuric acid. In powder form it is used as a catalyst in hydrogeneration.