History records that in 1822 Leopold Gmelin (1788–1853), then Professor of Chemistry at Heidelberg University made a modest contribution to the advancement of the chemistry of the platinum metals by his discovery, in collaboration with Fredrich Wöhler, of the double potassium cyanides of both platinum and palladium. A more notable and lasting achievement was, of course, the establishment in 1817 of his “Handbook of Theoretical Chemistry” which recorded and reviewed progress in that subject. Over the intervening years this process has continued, and although organic chemistry is no longer included the length and importance of the publication has grown remarkably as has the task of compiling it. Now the responsibility of the Gmelin Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, one of the institutes of the Max-Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, the handbook is currently in its 8th edition.

The recently available Gmelin volume on the technology of the platinum group metals has been written by an international team, each member of which is a recognised authority on their specialised topic. First the recovery of the platinum group metals is considered by R. I. Edwards, W. A. M. te Riele and G. J. Bernfeld, of the Council for Mineral Technology, Randburg. In a 23 page chapter the established methods of concentrating and refining the platinum group metals are considered, as are the most modern extraction techniques.

The purity of the platinum metals has long been important to people investigating the structure and properties of these metals, but increasingly their successful application under arduous conditions in high-technology fields is dependent, to a very large extent, upon the absence of impurities. The chapter on high purity metals, prepared by W. Westwood, formerly of Johnson Matthey, occupies 42 pages and complements the preceding chapter by first considering the methods used to refine the metals. It then goes on to review the various purification routes and the methods of determining impurities.

Although the electrodeposition of platinum has been practised for over 150 years, the subject still attracts considerable interest as users strive to exploit the properties of certain of the platinum group metals in the most economical way. Within the 26 pages devoted to electrodeposition, ruthenium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum have been reviewed by Ch. J. Raub, of Forschungsinstitut für Edelmetalle und Metallchemie, and rhodium by F. Simon of Degussa. The properties of electrodeposited rhodium, which include tarnish resistance, good wear resistance, low contact resistance, high reflectivity and attractive colour, make it a most useful material for both industrial and decorative purposes. Iridium plating has not found wide technical application due to practical difficulties, while a lack of interest has, perhaps, restricted the investigation of osmium deposits. Despite extensive investigation, electrodeposited ruthenium has found only limited industrial application. Within the electronics industry there is an economic incentive to use palladium electrodeposits as a substitute for gold. There is little interest in platinum for this particular purpose, but it finds application elsewhere and the various methods of coating substrates with platinum are considered.

In view of their long established use for many important industrial applications it is not surprising that the chapter devoted to platinum group metals, alloys and compounds in catalysis forms, by far, the largest part of this volume. Within these 226 pages, prepared by A. J. Bird of the Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, all major aspects of platinum group metals catalyst chemistry and technology are reviewed; indeed it seems unlikely that any significant topic has been neglected. Major divisions include 55 pages on unsupported metals and metal alloy catalysts and 23 pages on supported metals and metal alloy catalysts, while platinum group metal compounds in catalysis occupies 122 pages. These three are then subdivided into sections on preparation, properties and the various reactions for which they are used. Although there is no index within the volume, the table of contents and the general arrangement of this and other chapters, enables readers to locate readily the sections of particular interest.

The biological activity of platinum compounds and their medical uses is considered by P. Köpf-Maier of the University of Ulm and H. Köpf of the Technische Universität, Berlin. In contrast to the preceding tome, this 23 page section is concerned with knowledge which has been accumulated during a period of only about twenty years. The progress made in this time is remarkable, and one may anticipate that a later Gmelin supplement will have to devote a more lengthy section to this important topic.

In the main, this handbook covers the literature up until 1983, and its importance results from the many relevant sources referenced. These also serve to indicate the publications that should be searched by investigators requiring more recent information. At the front of this book a list is given of other Gmelin volumes on the platinum group metals. These are likely to emphasise work regarded as particularly significant up to the time of their publication, and they are tabulated here for the benefit of readers who may wish to study other aspects of platinum group metals chemistry.