Palladium was named after the asteroid Pallas, which was discovered at about the sametime. Pallas was the Greek goddess of wisdom.

Discovered in 1803 by Wollaston, Palladium is found with platinum and other metals ofthe platinum group in placer deposits of Russia, South America, North America, Ethiopia,and Australia. It is also found associated with the nickel-copper deposits of South Africaand Ontario. Palladium's separation from the platinum metals depends upon the type of orein which it is found.