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Indium is in Group 9 (VIIIB) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how elements are related to one another. Indium is a transition metal that is also part of the platinum family.
The metals in the platinum family are also known as the noble metals. They have this name because they do not react well with other elements and compounds. They appear to be "too superior" to react with most other substances. In fact, iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known. It is not affected by high temperatures, acids, bases, or most other strong chemicals. That property makes it useful in making objects that are exposed to such materials.
Iridium may be a key element in the puzzle of dinosaur extinction. Scientists search for iridium in the soil to track the impact of a giant meteor with the Earth 65 million years ago.
The platinum metals posed a difficult problem for early chemists. These metals often occurred mixed together in the earth. When a scientist thought that he was analyzing a sample of platinum, the sample often contained indium, rhodium, osmium, and other metals as well.
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