Platinum dioxide
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Platinum dioxide,PtO2, is an oxide of platinum. Also known as Adams' catalyst, it is formed via oxidation of chloroplatinic acid or ammonium hexachloroplatinate, or burning platinum nitrate.
[edit] Synthesis
From chloroplatinic acid:
H2PtCl6 + 6 NaNO3 --> PtO2 + 3 Na2O + 3 Cl2 + 6 NO2 + H2O
From ammonium chloroplatinate:
(NH4)2PtCl6 + 12 NaNO3 --> PtO2 + 6 Na2O + 3 Cl2 + 12 NO2 + N2 + 4 H2O
[edit] Uses
Platinum dioxide is a common chemical that is used as a catalyst in hydrogenation reactions. Unlike carbon dioxide, a related compound, the platinum and oxygen are very weakly bonded, and can easily be broken via contact with hydrogen gas.
For more information, see Adams' catalyst