Palladium is a Block D, Group 10, Period 5 element. The electronic configuration is [Kr] 4d¹⁰. In its elemental form palladium's CAS number is 7440-05-3. The palladium atom has a radius of 137.6.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 163.pm. Palladium is a member of the platinum group of metals. It is an excellent hydrogenation and dehydrogenation catalyst and available in many Organo-metallic forms for this purpose. It is alloyed with gold, silver, iridium and other platinum group elements and used in jewelry. The metal is used in dentistry, watch making, and in making surgical instruments and electrical contacts.