PLATINA is a metallic substance, the name of which has an allusion to its colour. It is a diminutive of plata, and signifies "little silver." From its great specific gravity, and other resemblances which it has to gold, it has been called or blane, or white gold; from its refractory nature, diabolus metallorum; from some doubts entertained of its character as a metal, juan blanco, white jack, white rogue, or white mock metal. It has also received the appellation of the eighth metal: and, probably from some district which affords it, has gotten the name of platina del Pinto. For an ac-
count of its properties, and for its natural history, see CHEMISTRY; MINERALOGY; and ORES, Reduction of.