What could discolor a platinum ring? My wife's wedding band was discolored by something when she was cleaning up, she said she thought it was chlorine bleach, would that be reasonable?

Was it reddish-brown?

Bleach in water forms the following equilibrium:

Cl₂ + H₂O H⁺ + Cl⁻ + HClO

And since,

Pt + 2Cl₂--> PtCl₄ that could very well be the cause. You can buff it off. Rings are definitely bad to have around chemicals and machinery!

Actually it was a dull gray but a little polish/elbow grease and it came off, still puzzling...

Was it reddish-brown?

Bleach in water forms the following equilibrium:

Cl₂ + H₂O H⁺ + Cl⁻ + HClO

And since,

Pt + 2Cl₂--> PtCl₄ that could very well be the cause. You can buff it off. Rings are definitely bad to have around chemicals and machinery!

i am not familiar with chemistry, i just wonder Cl₂ + H₂O H⁺ + Cl⁻ + HClO , is it exactly how our tap water is chloridized ??

it produces H, and our tap is full of H ? hydrogen gas is a highly flammable gas. I guess i may be very wrong, PL correct me.

Edited January 10, 201411 yr by fresh

Actually it was a dull gray but a little polish/elbow grease and it came off, still puzzling...

I am still waiting for the answer of this thread. Unluckily, nobody could come up with an answer..sigh..