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The discovery of Osmium
Basic Information
Obtaining Osmium
Uses Today
Sources |
| Element Name and Symbol |
Osmium, Os |
| Atomic Mass |
190.2 |
| Atomic Number |
76 |
| Density |
22.6 g/cm3 |
| Boiling Point/ melting Point |
5027 C/ 3054 C |
| Abundance in the Universe |
0.02 parts per billion in atoms |
| Isotopes |
162Os; 163Os;
164Os; 165Os; 166Os; 167Os; 168Os; 169Os;
170Os; 171Os; 172Os; 173Os; 174Os; 175Os; 176Os;
177Os; 178Os; 179Os; 180Os; 181mOs; 181Os;
182mOs; 182Os; 183Os; 184Os; 185Os; 186Os; 187Os;
188Os; 189mOs; 189Os; 190mOs; 190Os; 191mOs;
191Os; 192mOs; 192Os; 193Os; 194Os; 195Os;
196Os; |
| Some Compounds |
Fluorides: OsF4; OsF6; OsF7; OsF8 [OsF5]4
Chlorides: OsCL3; OsCl4; OsCl5
OsBr3; OsBr4
Iodides: OsI; OsI2; OsI3
Oxides: OsO2; OsO4;
Others: OsS2; OsSe2; OsTe2
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Osmium is a hard, brittle, lustrous, bluish-white metal that remains hard even under
high temperature and can stand more pressure that even diamonds. Classified as a
transition metal on the periodic table, it is the heaviest metal of the platinum group,
denser than even iridium. In it’s powdered or spongy states the metal slowly reacts with
the air, giving off the poisonous gas osmium tetroxide. This poisonous gas is dangerous
in concentrations as low as 10-7g/m3, and can cause lung congestion, skin damage, or eye
damage. Because of the toxicity of this compound, Osmium is used primarily alloyed
with other metals.
Osmium is found in nature in the alloy iridosmine. However, it has no know role in the
environment. After all, pure powdered or spongey reacts to form a toxic gas. Osmium most readily
reacts with oxygen but can be in a lab reacted to form several other compounds. However, it
does not react with water.
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