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Does palladium tarnish or not?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish because it doesn’t react with oxygen at normal temperatures.
Palladium is a tarnish-resistant metal that retains its shine well, even with wear and scratches.
Below are all the questions people ask about tarnishing palladium (jewelry) + quick answers to them.
- What is Palladium Tarnish?
- Does Palladium Tarnish in Water?
- Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Vinegar?
- Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Hydrogen Peroxide?
- Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Nitric Acid?
- Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Lemon Juice?
- Does Pure Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Moist Air?
- Does Pure Palladium Tarnish in Chlorine?
- Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Bleach?
- Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Toothpaste?
- Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Baking Soda?
- Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Flame?
- Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Alcohol?
- Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Makeup?
- Does Palladium 999 Tarnish? What about Other Types of Platinum (950 and 500)?
Note: here’s an awesome quiz about palladium tarnishing based on this post. Take it after you’ve read the article as it’ll help you permanently remember everything you should know about this topic.
Table of Contents
What is Palladium Tarnish?
Palladium tarnish is actually a patina that develops over time from scratches and wear and tear. Patina gives the palladium item a matte finish, which some people like and some don’t.
But patina isn’t the same as tarnish.
Does Palladium Tarnish in Water?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish in water.
Palladium is a noble metal resistant to tarnishing from water or any other substance you throw at it. Meaning you can safely use water to clean your palladium-made rings, necklaces, chain and bracelets.
And if you have IRA-approved palladium bullion at your home you can use water to clean that as well.
Note: salt water and chlorinated water also can’t make palladium tarnish. So it’s safe to wear palladium-made jewelry in chlorinated pools or in seawater.
Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Vinegar?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish when exposed to vinegar. Vinegar is only weakly acidic and can’t cause palladium to tarnish.
Powerful acids can damage and corrode palladium, but vinegar is weak and you can use it to clean your palladium jewelry.
Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Hydrogen Peroxide?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish when exposed to hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide causes palladium to undergo surface oxidation, forming a thin layer of palladium oxide (PdO). Palladium Oxide isn’t palladium tarnish but you won’t be able to easily wipe it off from the surface of your jewelry.
Simple cleaning with a cloth won’t do and you’ll need to go to a professional jeweler to clean your jewelry for you.
Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Nitric Acid?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish when exposed to nitric acid.
Concentrated nitric acid can dissolve and corrode palladium items but it can’t tarnish them because pure palladium as a noble metal doesn’t tarnish under any circumstance.
Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Lemon Juice?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish when exposed to lemon juice. Lemon juice is only weakly acidic and can’t cause palladium to tarnish. Very strong acids can damage and corrode palladium, but lemon juice is weak and in fact you can use it to clean your palladium jewelry at home.
Does Pure Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Moist Air?
No, pure palladium doesn’t tarnish when exposed to moist air.
Pure palladium is resistant to tarnishing in moist air because it doesn’t react with oxygen at standard temperatures.
However, palladium tarnishes in the presence of oxygen if heated above 800°C and forms a layer of palladium(II) oxide (PdO). However, in normal circumstances that will never happen.
Does Pure Palladium Tarnish in Chlorine?
No, pure palladium doesn’t tarnish in chlorine.
Palladium is highly resistant to chlorine and most other chemicals, making it a safe choice for jewelry to wear while swimming in chlorinated pools. In fact, you could put chlorine directly on your palladium ring or necklace and it won’t make a dent in it.
Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Bleach?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish when exposed to bleach. Palladium is a noble metal that’s can’t tarnish under any circumstance.
However, bleach is a harsh chemical that can discolor, damage and corrode palladium jewelry to the point of no return. So I don’t advise you apply bleach to your valuable palladium jewelry or bullion.
Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Toothpaste?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish when exposed to toothpaste.
Toothpaste can’t tarnish palladium, but it can scratch it due to its abrasive nature. Meaning you shouldn’t use toothpaste to clean your palladium jewelry.
Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Baking Soda?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish when exposed to baking soda as palladium is naturally resistant to oxidation and corrosion. Baking soda is abrasive so don’t use it clean your palladium jewelry or bullion.
Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Flame?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish when exposed to flame or fire.
However, palladium discolors at high temperatures, particularly above 400°C (752°F) which means a large house fire will tarnish and discolor palladium jewelry.
Really large fires that reach high temperatures of 1554.9 °C (2831 °F) will even melt palladium jewelry.
Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Alcohol?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish when exposed to alcohol. You can use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to clean palladium jewelry as alcohol dissolves dirt and oils without damaging the precious metal.
Does Palladium Tarnish When Exposed to Makeup?
No, palladium doesn’t tarnish when exposed to makeup. Palladium is a very durable precious metal and no amount of liquid foundation and makeup powder causes it to tarnish and lose its inherent luster.
Does Palladium-Plated Brass Tarnish?
Yes, palladium-plated brass tarnishes.
The tarnishing happens only when palladium coating is damaged and the brass is exposed to oxygen, moisture, skin oils and other elements. Brass tarnishes because the copper+ zinc within react react to oxygen.
Palladium-coated brass and items made from it won’t tarnish when the coating is undamaged and brass is concealed underneath.
Does Palladium Rust or Tarnish?
Palladium neither rusts nor tarnishes. Palladium as a noble metal can’t tarnish. And only iron can oxidize and rust while palladium and other precious metals can’t.
Palladium can corrode though when exposed to harsh chemicals like chlorine, ammonia, bleach and other harsh chemicals.
Does Palladium 999 Tarnish? What about Other Types of Platinum (950 and 500)?
No, palladium 999 doesn’t tarnish. Palladium 999 is the purest form of this precious metal and completely immune to tarnishing.
This type of palladium is IRA approved meaning you can purchase and include it as part of your gold IRA or silver IRA account.
Palladium 950 and palladium 500 are also tarnish-resistant.
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Does Palladium Tarnish or Not (Conclusion)?
Pure palladium never tarnishes. It’s a noble precious metal that can’t be tarnished by water, vinegar, lemon juice, oxygen, alcohol, bleach, nitric acid or any type of strong acid.
Palladium jewelry however can tarnish if the jewelry items are only palladium-coated with base metals susceptible to tarnishing.
Resources:
- Does Palladium Tarnish?- https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/does-palladium-tarnish.454180/
- Is palladium better than platinum?- https://www.prosumerdiamonds.com/platinum-vs-palladium/
- Palladium silver alloy- https://orchid.ganoksin.com/t/palladium-silver-alloy/39503/1
- What Does Tarnish Mean? Do Gold, Platinum and Palladium Tarnish https://www.serendipitydiamonds.com/blog/tarnish-meaning/
- Discoloration on my wife’s palladium ring.- https://www.reddit.com/r/Moissanite/comments/et9rtt/discoloration_on_my_wifes_palladium_ring/
- Palladium- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palladium
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.
