Talk:Platinum silicide

Reasonable cost?

This compound contains platinum, a very pricey metal!

If the cost is "reasonable", then such indicates either that

(1) not much is necessary for its application (example, gold leaf, even if such use is counterintuitive), (2) the material is far superior in its performance for its use, or (3) alternatives have undesirable properties (toxicity, chemical instability, unsuitability due to electrical properties, such mechanical weaknesses as brittleness or an undesired melting point) for some applications.

If this substance were available as a mineral, it would likely be decomposed for its platinum. Besides, were it the first substance suitable to its stated use, chemists would seek less costly substitutes.

As a rule, industrial chemists are more likely to seek uses for inexpensive substances for mass use than to seek unusual uses for costly ones. For example, if an iron silicide (iron is one of the cheapest metals to procure) had similar properties (not that such is true) -- then wouldn't it be put to use instead?

Some clarification is necessary.

--Paul from Michigan 05:58, 9 November 2007 (UTC)