Osmium

Properties
Atomic symbol |  Os
Atomic number |  76
Classification |  Transition Metals
Atomic mass |  190.2 amu
Other Information
Date of discovery |  1803
Name of discoverer |  Smithson Tennant and William Hyde Wollaston
Name origin |  From the Greek osmê, meaning odour, due to its pungent smell.
Uses |  Used to tip gold pen points and instrument pivots (such as compass needles and clock bearings). Also used to make electric light filaments and for high temperature alloys and pressure bearings.
Obtained from |  Produced as a by-product of nickel refining.

Osmium is a chemical element that is one of the platinum metals. It is the densest of all the natural elements. Because pure osmium oxidizes to the extremely toxic osmium tetroxide, osmium is rarely used in its pure form. Osmium also has a very unique ability; it can apparently undergo osmosis. The unique electron structure of the Osmium3+ ion allows it to be pulled through a thin membrane to the other side, on the surface apparently similar to water undergoing osmosis. This ability to penetrate easily into the furthest reaches of the human body is what allows it to be so toxic to humans.[1]

## See also[edit]

* Precious metal
* Gold and Silver
* Gold standard
* Inflation hedge
* Fiat currency

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Advanced Chemistry 'Chemical Storylines', Salters-Nuffield, 2001

Periodic Table of the Elements

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18

1.008

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

4.003

6.939

9.0122

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

10.811

12.011

14.007

15.999

18.998

10.183

22.99

24.312

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

26.982

28.086

30.974

32.064

35.453

39.948

39.102

40.08

44.956

47.9

50.942

51.996

54.938

55.847

58.933

58.71

63.546

65.37

69.72

72.59

74.922

78.96

79.904

83.8

85.47

87.62

88.905

91.22

92.906

95.94

[97]

101.07

102.91

106.4

107.87

112.4

114.82

118.69

121.75

127.6

126.9

131.3

132.91

137.34

57*

138.91

178.49

180.95

183.85

186.2

190.2

192.2

195.09

196.97

200.59

204.37

207.19

208.98

210

210

222

215

226.03

89**

227.03

104

[261]

105

[262]

106

[266]

107

[264]

108

[265]

109

[268]

110

[271]

111

[272]

112

[277]

113

[284]

114

[289]

115

[288]

116

[292]

117

[293]

118

[294]

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
*Lanthanides  |

140.12

140.91

144.24

145

150.35

151.96

157.25

158.92

162.5

164.93

167.26

168.93

173.04

174.97

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
**Actinides  |

232.04

231

238.03

237.05

239.05

241.06

244.06

249.08

252.08

252.08

100

257.1

101

258.1

102

259.1

103

262.11

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |