Osmium
✒️ In Your World
Osmium holds the title for the densest naturally occurring element. This hard, brittle, blue-gray metal is extremely rare. Its density and hardness make it perfect for creating extremely durable alloys. You'll find osmium alloys in applications that require extreme wear resistance, such as the tips of high-end fountain pens, record player needles, and electrical contacts.
📖 The Discovery Story
Osmium was discovered in 1803 by English chemist Smithson Tennant in London. He found it, along with iridium, in the black, insoluble residue left after dissolving crude platinum in aqua regia (a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids). He named the new element "osmium" from the Greek word osme, meaning "smell" or "odor," because of the strong, unpleasant, chlorine-like smell of its volatile oxide.
📊 Properties at a Glance
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Melting Point | 3033 °C / 5491 °F |
| Boiling Point | 5012 °C / 9054 °F |
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴5d⁶6s² |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 0.00000015% |
⚠️ Safety & Handling
While solid osmium metal is harmless, it forms osmium tetroxide (OsO₄) when its powder is exposed to air. Osmium tetroxide is volatile, has a pungent odor, and is extremely toxic. It can cause severe damage to the skin, eyes, and lungs even at very low exposures. It must be handled with extreme caution in a fume hood.