This is a list of prices of chemical elements. Listed here are mainly average market prices for bulk trade of commodities. Data on elements' abundance in Earth's crust is added for comparison.
As of 2020 [update] , the most expensive non-synthetic element by both mass and volume is osmium. It is followed by rhodium, caesium, iridium and palladium by mass and iridium, gold and platinum by volume. Carbon in the form of diamond can be more expensive than osmium. Per-kilogram prices of some synthetic radioisotopes range to trillions of dollars. While the difficulty of obtaining macroscopic samples of synthetic elements in part explains their high value, there has been interest in converting base metals to gold (chrysopoeia) since ancient times, but only deeper understanding of nuclear physics has allowed the actual production of a tiny amount of gold from other elements for research purposes as demonstrated by Glenn Seaborg. [1] [2] However, both this and other routes of synthesis of precious metals via nuclear reactions is orders of magnitude removed from economic viability.
Chlorine, sulfur and carbon (as coal) are cheapest by mass. Hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and chlorine are cheapest by volume at atmospheric pressure.
When there is no public data on the element in its pure form, price of a compound is used, per mass of element contained. This implicitly puts the value of compounds' other constituents, and the cost of extraction of the element, at zero. For elements whose radiological properties are important, individual isotopes and isomers are listed. The price listing for radioisotopes is not exhaustive.
A pink background means a radioactive element [3] .
Bismuth is considered stable here as it's barely radioactive so it's used for producing cosmetics [4] .
Z | Symbol | Name | Density [a] (kg/ L ) | Abundance and total mass in Earth's crust [b] (mg/kg) | Price [9] | Year | Source | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USD/kg | USD/L [c] | ||||||||
1 | H | Hydrogen | 0.00008988 | 1400 (3.878×1019 kg) | 1.39 | 0.000125 | 2012 | DOE Hydrogen [10] | [d] |
1 | 2H (D) | Deuterium | 0.0001667 [12] | 13400 | 2.23 | 2020 | CIL [13] | [e] | |
2 | He | Helium | 0.0001785 | 0.008 (2.216×1014 kg) | 24.0 | 0.00429 | 2018 | USGS MCS [16] | [f] |
3 | Li | Lithium | 0.534 | 20 (5.54×1017 kg) | 81.4–85.6 | 43.4–45.7 | 2020 | SMM [18] [g] | [h] |
4 | Be | Beryllium | 1.85 | 2.8 (7.756×1016 kg) | 857 | 1590 | 2020 | ISE 2020 [19] [i] | [j] |
5 | B | Boron | 2.34 | 10 (2.77×1017 kg) | 3.68 | 8.62 | 2019 | CEIC Data [20] [k] | [l] |
6 | C | Carbon | 2.267 | 200 (5.54×1018 kg) | 0.122 | 0.28 | 2018 | EIA Coal [21] | [m] |
7 | N | Nitrogen | 0.0012506 | 19 (5.263×1017 kg) | 0.140 | 0.000175 | 2001 | Hypertextbook [26] | [n] |
8 | O | Oxygen | 0.001429 | 461000 (1.277×1022 kg) | 0.154 | 0.000220 | 2001 | Hypertextbook [26] | [o] |
9 | F | Fluorine | 0.001696 | 585 (1.62×1019 kg) | 1.84–2.16 | 0.00311 – 0.00365 | 2017 | Echemi [27] | [p] |
10 | Ne | Neon | 0.0008999 | 0.005 (1.385×1014 kg) | 240 | 0.21 | 1999 | Ullmann [28] | [q] |
11 | Na | Sodium | 0.971 | 23600 (6.537×1020 kg) | 2.57–3.43 | 2.49–3.33 | 2020 | SMM [29] [g] | [r] |
12 | Mg | Magnesium | 1.738 | 23300 (6.454×1020 kg) | 2.32 | 4.03 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [t] |
13 | Al | Aluminium | 2.698 | 82300 (2.28×1021 kg) | 1.79 | 4.84 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [u] |
14 | Si | Silicon | 2.3296 | 282000 (7.811×1021 kg) | 1.70 | 3.97 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [v] |
15 | P | Phosphorus | 1.82 | 1050 (2.909×1019 kg) | 2.69 | 4.90 | 2019 | CEIC Data [20] [k] | [w] |
16 | S | Sulfur | 2.067 | 350 (9.695×1018 kg) | 0.0926 | 0.191 | 2019 | CEIC Data [20] [k] | |
17 | Cl | Chlorine | 0.003214 | 145 (4.075×1018 kg) | 0.082 | 0.00026 | 2013 | CnAgri [31] | [x] |
18 | Ar | Argon | 0.0017837 | 3.5 (9.695×1016 kg) | 0.931 | 0.00166 | 2019 | UNLV [33] | [y] |
19 | K | Potassium | 0.862 | 20900 (5.789×1020 kg) | 12.1–13.6 | 10.5–11.7 | 2020 | SMM [34] [g] | [z] |
20 | Ca | Calcium | 1.54 | 41500 (1.15×1021 kg) | 2.21–2.35 | 3.41–3.63 | 2020 | SMM [35] [g] | [aa] |
21 | Sc | Scandium | 2.989 | 22 (6.094×1017 kg) | 3460 | 10300 | 2020 | ISE 2020 [36] [ab] | [ac] |
22 | Ti | Titanium | 4.54 | 5650 (1.565×1020 kg) | 11.1–11.7 | 50.5–53.1 | 2020 | SMM [37] [g] | [ad] |
23 | V | Vanadium | 6.11 | 120 (3.324×1018 kg) | 357–385 | 2180–2350 | 2020 | SMM [38] [g] | [ae] |
24 | Cr | Chromium | 7.15 | 102 (2.825×1018 kg) | 9.40 | 67.2 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [af] |
25 | Mn | Manganese | 7.44 | 950 (2.632×1019 kg) | 1.82 | 13.6 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [ag] |
26 | Fe | Iron | 7.874 | 56300 (1.565×1021 kg) | 0.424 | 3.34 | 2020 | SMM [39] [g] | [ah] |
27 | Co | Cobalt | 8.86 | 25 (6.925×1017 kg) | 32.8 | 291 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [ai] |
28 | Ni | Nickel | 8.912 | 84 (2.327×1018 kg) | 13.9 | 124 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [aj] |
29 | Cu | Copper | 8.96 | 60 (1.662×1018 kg) | 6.00 | 53.8 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [ak] |
30 | Zn | Zinc | 7.134 | 70 (1.939×1018 kg) | 2.55 | 18.2 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [al] |
31 | Ga | Gallium | 5.907 | 19 (5.263×1017 kg) | 148 | 872 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [am] |
32 | Ge | Germanium | 5.323 | 1.5 (4.155×1016 kg) | 914–1010 | 4860–5390 | 2020 | SMM [41] [g] | [an] |
33 | As | Arsenic | 5.776 | 1.8 (4.986×1016 kg) | 0.999–1.31 | 5.77–7.58 | 2020 | SMM [42] [g] | [ao] |
34 | Se | Selenium | 4.809 | 0.05 (1.385×1015 kg) | 21.4 | 103 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [ap] |
35 | Br | Bromine | 3.122 | 2.4 (6.648×1016 kg) | 4.39 | 13.7 | 2019 | CEIC Data [20] [k] | |
36 | Kr | Krypton | 0.003733 | 1×10−4 (2.77×1012 kg) | 290 | 1.1 | 1999 | Ullmann [28] | [aq] |
37 | Rb | Rubidium | 1.532 | 90 (2.493×1018 kg) | 15500 | 23700 | 2018 | USGS MCS [16] | [ar] |
38 | Sr | Strontium | 2.64 | 370 (1.025×1019 kg) | 6.53–6.68 | 17.2–17.6 | 2019 | ISE 2019 [43] | [as] |
39 | Y | Yttrium | 4.469 | 33 (9.141×1017 kg) | 31.0 | 139 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [at] |
40 | Zr | Zirconium | 6.506 | 165 (4.571×1018 kg) | 35.7–37.1 | 232–241 | 2020 | SMM [44] [g] | [au] |
41 | Nb | Niobium | 8.57 | 20 (5.54×1017 kg) | 61.4–85.6 | 526–734 | 2020 | SMM [45] [g] | [av] |
42 | Mo | Molybdenum | 10.22 | 1.2 (3.324×1016 kg) | 40.1 | 410 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [aw] |
43 | Tc | Technetium | 11.5 | ~ 3×10−9 [ax] (8.31×107 kg) | 100000 | 1200000 | 2004 [ay] | CRC Handbook [az] | |
43 | 99mTc | Technetium-99m | 11.5 | 1.9×1012 | 22×1012 | 2008 | NRC [48] | [ba] | |
44 | Ru | Ruthenium | 12.37 | 0.001 (2.77×1013 kg) | 10400 – 10600 | 129000 – 131000 | 2020 | SMM [49] [g] | [bb] |
45 | Rh | Rhodium | 12.41 | 0.001 (2.77×1013 kg) | 147000 | 1820000 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [bc] |
46 | Pd | Palladium | 12.02 | 0.015 (4.155×1014 kg) | 49500 | 595000 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [bd] |
47 | Ag | Silver | 10.501 | 0.075 (2.0775×1015 kg) | 521 | 5470 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [be] |
48 | Cd | Cadmium | 8.69 | 0.159 (4.4043×1015 kg) | 2.73 | 23.8 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [bf] |
49 | In | Indium | 7.31 | 0.25 (6.925×1015 kg) | 167 | 1220 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [bg] |
50 | Sn | Tin | 7.287 | 2.3 (6.371×1016 kg) | 18.7 | 136 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [bh] |
51 | Sb | Antimony | 6.685 | 0.2 (5.54×1015 kg) | 5.79 | 38.7 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [bi] |
52 | Te | Tellurium | 6.232 | 0.001 (2.77×1013 kg) | 63.5 | 396 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [bj] |
53 | I | Iodine | 4.93 | 0.45 (1.2465×1016 kg) | 35 | 173 | 2019 | Industrial Minerals [50] | [bk] |
54 | Xe | Xenon | 0.005887 | 3×10−5 (8.31×1011 kg) | 1800 | 11 | 1999 | Ullmann [28] | [bl] |
55 | Cs | Caesium | 1.873 | 3 (8.31×1016 kg) | 61800 | 116000 | 2018 | USGS MCS [16] | [bm] |
56 | Ba | Barium | 3.594 | 425 (1.177×1019 kg) | 0.246–0.275 | 0.886–0.990 | 2016 | USGS MYB 2016 [51] | [bn] |
57 | La | Lanthanum | 6.145 | 39 (1.08×1018 kg) | 4.78–4.92 | 29.4–30.3 | 2020 | SMM [53] [g] | [bo] |
58 | Ce | Cerium | 6.77 | 66.5 (1.84205×1018 kg) | 4.57–4.71 | 30.9–31.9 | 2020 | SMM [54] [g] | [bp] |
59 | Pr | Praseodymium | 6.773 | 9.2 (2.5484×1017 kg) | 103 | 695 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [bq] |
60 | Nd | Neodymium | 7.007 | 41.5 (1.14955×1018 kg) | 57.5 | 403 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [br] |
61 | 147Pm | Promethium-147 | 7.26 | 460000 | 3400000 | 2003 | Radiochemistry Society [55] | [bs] | |
62 | Sm | Samarium | 7.52 | 7.05 (1.95285×1017 kg) | 13.9 | 104 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [bt] |
63 | Eu | Europium | 5.243 | 2 (5.54×1016 kg) | 31.4 | 165 | 2020 | ISE 2020 [36] [ab] | [bu] |
64 | Gd | Gadolinium | 7.895 | 6.2 (1.7174×1017 kg) | 28.6 | 226 | 2020 | ISE 2020 [36] [ab] | [bv] |
65 | Tb | Terbium | 8.229 | 1.2 (3.324×1016 kg) | 658 | 5410 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [bw] |
66 | Dy | Dysprosium | 8.55 | 5.2 (1.4404×1017 kg) | 307 | 2630 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [bx] |
67 | Ho | Holmium | 8.795 | 1.3 (3.601×1016 kg) | 57.1 | 503 | 2020 | ISE 2020 [36] [ab] | [by] |
68 | Er | Erbium | 9.066 | 3.5 (9.695×1016 kg) | 26.4 | 240 | 2020 | ISE 2020 [36] [ab] | [bz] |
69 | Tm | Thulium | 9.321 | 0.52 (1.4404×1016 kg) | 3000 | 28000 | 2003 | IMAR [56] [ca] | [cb] |
70 | Yb | Ytterbium | 6.965 | 3.2 (8.864×1016 kg) | 17.1 | 119 | 2020 | ISE 2020 [36] [ab] | [cc] |
71 | Lu | Lutetium | 9.84 | 0.8 (2.216×1016 kg) | 643 | 6330 | 2020 | ISE 2020 [36] [ab] | [cd] |
72 | Hf | Hafnium | 13.31 | 3 (8.31×1016 kg) | 900 | 12000 | 2017 | USGS MCS [16] | [ce] |
73 | Ta | Tantalum | 16.654 | 2 (5.54×1016 kg) | 298–312 | 4960–5200 | 2019 | ISE 2019 [43] | [cf] |
74 | W | Tungsten | 19.25 | 1.3 (3.601×1016 kg) | 35.3 | 679 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [cg] |
75 | Re | Rhenium | 21.02 | 7×10−4 (1.939×1013 kg) | 3010–4150 | 63300 – 87300 | 2020 | SMM [57] [g] | [ch] |
76 | Os | Osmium | 22.61 | 0.002 (5.54×1013 kg) | 1922040 | 43427016 | 2025 | Osmium-preis [58] | |
77 | Ir | Iridium | 22.56 | 0.001 (2.77×1013 kg) | 144000 | 3276000 | 2025 | Umicore [59] | |
78 | Pt | Platinum | 21.46 | 0.005 (1.385×1014 kg) | 27800 | 596000 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [ci] |
79 | Au | Gold | 19.282 | 0.004 (1.108×1014 kg) | 75430 | 1454441 | 2024 | London gold fix | [cj] |
80 | Hg | Mercury | 13.5336 | 0.085 (2.3545×1015 kg) | 30.2 | 409 | 2017 | USGS MCS [16] | [ck] |
81 | Tl | Thallium | 11.85 | 0.85 (2.3545×1016 kg) | 4200 | 49800 | 2017 | USGS MCS [16] | |
82 | Pb | Lead | 11.342 | 14 (3.878×1017 kg) | 2.00 | 22.6 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [cl] |
83 | Bi | Bismuth | 9.807 | 0.009 (2.493×1014 kg) | 6.36 | 62.4 | 2019 | Preismonitor [22] [s] | [cm] |
84 | 209Po | Polonium-209 | 9.32 | 49.2×1012 | 458×1012 | 2004 [ay] | CRC Handbook (ORNL) [cn] | ||
85 | At | Astatine | 7 | 3×10−20 [ax] (8.31×10−4 kg) | Not traded. | [co] | |||
86 | Rn | Radon | 0.00973 | 4×10−13 [ax] (1.108×104 kg) | Not traded. | [cp] | |||
87 | Fr | Francium | 1.87 | ~ 1×10−18 [ax] (2.77×10−2 kg) | Not traded. | [cq] | |||
88 | Ra | Radium | 5.5 | 9×10−7 [ax] (2.493×1010 kg) | Negative price. | [cr] | |||
89 | 225Ac | Actinium-225 | 10.07 | 29×1012 | 290×1012 | 2004 [ay] | CRC Handbook (ORNL) [cn] | ||
90 | Th | Thorium | 11.72 | 9.6 (2.6592×1017 kg) | 287 | 3360 | 2010 | USGS MYB 2012 [64] | [cs] |
91 | Pa | Protactinium | 15.37 | 1.4×10−6 [ax] (3.878×1010 kg) | No reliable price available. | [ct] | |||
92 | U | Uranium | 18.95 | 2.7 (7.479×1016 kg) | 101 | 1910 | 2018 | EIA Uranium Marketing [66] | [cu] |
93 | Np | Neptunium | 20.45 | ≤ 3×10−12 [ax] (8.31×104 kg) | 660000 | 13500000 | 2003 [ay] | Pomona [67] | [cv] |
94 | 239Pu | Plutonium-239 | 19.84 | 6490000 | 129000000 | 2019 | DOE OSTI [68] | [cw] | |
95 | 241Am | Americium-241 | 13.69 | 0 | 728000 | 9970000 | 1998 | NWA [69] [cx] | [cy] |
95 | 243Am | Americium-243 | 13.69 | 0 | 750000 | 10300000 | 2004 [ay] | CRC Handbook (ORNL) [cn] | |
96 | 244Cm | Curium-244 | 13.51 | 0 | 185000000 | 2.50×109 | 2004 [ay] | CRC Handbook (ORNL) [cn] | |
96 | 248Cm | Curium-248 | 13.51 | 0 | 160×109 | 2.16×1012 | 2004 [ay] | CRC Handbook (ORNL) [cn] | |
97 | 249Bk | Berkelium-249 | 14.79 | 0 | 185×109 | 2.74×1012 | 2004 [ay] | CRC Handbook (ORNL) [cn] | |
98 | 249Cf | Californium-249 | 15.1 | 0 | 185×109 | 2.79×1012 | 2004 [ay] | CRC Handbook (ORNL) [cn] | |
98 | 252Cf | Californium-252 | 15.1 | 0 | 60.0×109 | 906×109 | 2004 [ay] | CRC Handbook (ORNL) [cn] | |
99 | Es | Einsteinium | 8.84 | 0 | Not traded. | [cz] | |||
100 | Fm | Fermium | (9.7) | 0 | Not traded. | [da] | |||
101 | Md | Mendelevium | (10.3) | 0 | Not traded. | [db] | |||
102 | No | Nobelium | (9.9) | 0 | Not traded. | [dc] | |||
103 | Lr | Lawrencium | (15.6) | 0 | Not traded. | [dd] | |||
104 | Rf | Rutherfordium | (23.2) | 0 | Not traded. | [de] | |||
105 | Db | Dubnium | (29.3) | 0 | Not traded. | [df] | |||
106 | Sg | Seaborgium | (35.0) | 0 | Not traded. | [dg] | |||
107 | Bh | Bohrium | (37.1) | 0 | Not traded. | [dh] | |||
108 | Hs | Hassium | (40.7) | 0 | Not traded. | [di] | |||
109 | Mt | Meitnerium | (37.4) | 0 | Not traded. | [dj] | |||
110 | Ds | Darmstadtium | (34.8) | 0 | Not traded. | [dk] | |||
111 | Rg | Roentgenium | (28.7) | 0 | Not traded. | [dl] | |||
112 | Cn | Copernicium | (14.0) | 0 | Not traded. | [dm] | |||
113 | Nh | Nihonium | (16) | 0 | Not traded. | [dn] | |||
114 | Fl | Flerovium | (9.928) | 0 | Not traded. | [do] | |||
115 | Mc | Moscovium | (13.5) | 0 | Not traded. | [dp] | |||
116 | Lv | Livermorium | (12.9) | 0 | Not traded. | [dq] | |||
117 | Ts | Tennessine | (7.2) | 0 | Not traded. | [dr] | |||
118 | Og | Oganesson | (7) | 0 | Not traded. | [ds] |
{{cite book}}
: |work=
ignored (help){{cite book}}
: |work=
ignored (help){{cite book}}
: |work=
ignored (help)