Osmium (Os)

Osmium (Os)

Atomic Number: 76
Atomic Weight: 190.2
Melting Point: 3045
Boiling Point: 5027
Specific Gravity: 22.57
Valence(s): usually 3,4,6 or 8

Tenant discovered Osmium in 1803. Osmium is one of the most dense elements, second only to Iridium. It is found in iridosime and in the Nickel-bearing ores from Sudbury, Ontario. It is useful in producing hard Platinum alloys, which are used for fountain pen tips and phonograph needles. The name is derived from osme, Greek for smell. [LM] {RW}