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…showed last 75 words of 866 total…and water. Fine platinum wire glows when placed in methyl alcohol vapor, where it acts as a catalyst, converting the alcohol to formaldehyde. This effect is used commercially to produce cigarette lighters and hand warmers. The price of platinum has varied widely relative to the price of gold. Although it is slightly more valuable today, it was once used as a gold adulterant. Bibliography Grolier 1996 computer encyclopedia American Desk Encyclopedia copyright in 1998 www.britanica.com