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Osmium is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Os and atomic number 76. A hard brittle blue-gray or blue-black transition metal in the platinum family, osmium is one of the densest natural elements (selecting osmium or iridium as the heaviest element is not possible at this moment) and is used in some alloys with platinum and iridium. The extraordinary density of osmium is a consequence of the lanthanide contraction. Osmium is found native as an alloy in platinum ore and its tetroxide has been used to stain tissues and in fingerprinting. Alloys of osmium are employed in fountain pen tips, electrical contacts and in other applications where extreme durability and hardness are needed.
Notable characteristics
Osmium in a metallic form is extremely dense, blue white, brittle and lustrous even at high temperatures, but proves to be extremely difficult to make. Powdered osmium is easier to make, but powdered osmium exposed to air leads to the formation of osmium tetroxide (OsO4), which is toxic. The oxide is also a powerful oxidizing agent, emits a strong smell and boils at 130°C.
Due to its very high density osmium is generally considered to be the heaviest known element, narrowly defeating iridium. However, calculations of density from the space lattice may produce more reliable data for these elements than actual measurements and give a density of 22650 kg/m3 for iridium versus 22610 kg/m3 for osmium. Definitive selection between the two is therefore not possible at this time. If one distinguishes different isotopes, then the heaviest ordinary substance would be 192Os.
More on [ Osmium ]
@chickelit You be Donny Osmium and I'll be Marie! #buttinski
RuthAnneAdams (Ruth Anne Adams) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:31:16 -0000
@chickelit You be Donny Osmium and I'll be Marie! #buttinski
@Michael_Haz I want to be reincarnated in tomorrow's chart as rhodium or osmium!
chickelit (Bruce B.) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:05:27 -0000
@Michael_Haz I want to be reincarnated in tomorrow's chart as rhodium or osmium!
#OMGfacts The densest substance on Earth is the metal "osmium."
mOtOjUnKiE1000 (â¢deniseâ¢nicoleâ¢â¢) Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:41:39 -0000
#OMGfacts The densest substance on Earth is the metal "osmium."
VNCI-nieuws: Osmium van vroeger http://bit.ly/5K4Brm
vnci (VNCI) Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:42:09 -0000
VNCI-nieuws: Osmium van vroeger http://bit.ly/5K4Brm
VNCI-nieuws: Osmium van vroeger: Aan het osmiumgehalte van Spaanse turflagen kun je aflezen hoe gro.. http://bit.ly/8C4JPo
vnci (VNCI) Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:22:07 -0000
VNCI-nieuws: Osmium van vroeger: Aan het osmiumgehalte van Spaanse turflagen kun je aflezen hoe gro.. http://bit.ly/8C4JPo
Thinks Osmium Tetroxide is so sexy. After doing synthesis for a while you start saying crazy statements like this.
dansolis (dansolis) Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:34:29 -0000
Thinks Osmium Tetroxide is so sexy. After doing synthesis for a while you start saying crazy statements like this.
ChemGlobe: Osmium - Electronic, thermal, and steric data along with an isotope table.
Meta Description: [ The chemical element [Os] - Osmium - Datasheet ]
ChemicalElements.com: Osmium - Basic information, atomic structure, and isotopes.
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EnvironmentalChemistry.com: Osmium - Atomic structure, chemical and physical properties, and table of nuclides.
It's Elemental: Osmium - Basic physical and historical information.
Meta Description: [ The Element Osmium - Basic Physical and Historical Information ]
LANL: Osmium - Sources, properties, handling, and uses.
Lenntech: Osmium - Physical data, chemical properties, health and environmental effects.
Meta Description: [ chemical properties, health and environmental effects of osmium ]
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Osmium - Data tables and historic information.
Radiochemistry of Osmium - Full text of the monograph by G. W. Leddicotte (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee). [PDF]
Visual Elements: Osmium - General and physical information, source, uses, key isotopes, and ionisation energies.
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WebElements: Osmium - Extensive information on history, uses, occurrence, compounds, and properties.
Meta Description: [ This WebElements periodic table page contains key information for the element osmium ]
Wikipedia: Osmium - Properties of the element, including its history, applications, and characteristics.
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