Old solid Pt electrode

[rhasty]

Hi all,
New guy here looking for some advice.

I'm looking to sell what I believe is a solid platinum electrode that used to belong to my grandfather. He was a chemical engineer back in the 50's.



I've looked far and wide to find something similar online and have found nothing like it. I do suspect it is solid Pt because 1) it was in a container labeled "Platinum electrode" and 2) Upon heating to white hot with oxyacetylene there was no oxidation discoloration on neither the foil nor the wire it's attached to.

So my questions are:
Is it worth more than scrap because of its form factor (it's an antique 'part' not just scrap)?
I probably need to get it professionally assayed before selling it, right? Does this involve me mailing it to someone I've never met?

Thanks for your help!

 

[jimdoc]

What is the weight? You know someone will be asking that.
I would wait until you hear from Lou on the possible value as an electrode over scrap.

Jim

 

[rhasty]

It's got an approximate mass of 11g according to my little digital kitchen scale. Yes, Lou seems to be quite the trusted authority around these parts

 

[nickvc]

I suspect it is platinum but doubt that it has more value than it's metal value unless someone needs that particular item but as Jim said Lou will almost certainly know. I'd also guess its fine metal, if it's easily bent that's a good pointer but it could be alloyed with rhodium but an xrf test will easily tell that.

 

[Lou]

That's a nice piece. If you don't need the money, you could make it make you money: platinum is coveted for its outstanding electrical properties. I'd make a bunch of bromate, chlorite, and perchlorate with it.

 

[rhasty]

Thanks Lou, that is a very interesting prospect!

 

[Lou]

Yes, they last forever!

I could do with some sodium bromate and it is pricey. You'd be making that to beat the band with that little guy there!