Platinum, like that found in platinum bars, has a number of industrial uses that boost demand for this rare Precious Metal. Platinum, including Platinum by the gram or ounce, is the rarest of all Precious Metals. The concentration of Platinum in the earth’s crust is only 0.005 parts per million, as compared with an element like aluminum with a concentration of 82,300 parts per million.Investing in platinum is influenced by demand created by industrial use. Some of the top industrial uses for Platinum are as a catalyst in catalytic converters, transforming unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust into carbon dioxide and water vapor, in the hydrogenation of vegetable oil and in the process of creating higher-octane gasoline. These are just some of the industrial uses that can drive up demand and, in turn, the spot price of Platinum.