Palladium

Palladium was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, who named it after the asteroid Pallas, which had just been discovered the year before. Wollaston initially announced his discovery anonymously by offering palladium for sale in a London shop, which led to a scientific controversy until he revealed himself as the discoverer.

Palladium is a silvery-white metal that can absorb up to 900 times its own volume in hydrogen gas — imagine a sponge that soaks up gas instead of water! This property makes it valuable for hydrogen purification and storage. Palladium's biggest use today is in catalytic converters for gasoline-powered cars. It is also used in electronics, dentistry, and jewelry (palladium is sometimes used as a white gold alternative).

Palladium's symbol 'Pd' is a distinctive two-letter element in Spellement. While 'pd' is not a standard English word beginning, partial emphasis lets spellers use 'p' or 'd' individually — both common consonants that appear in countless English words.