Osmium (Os)
Osmium is the densest naturally occurring element, nearly twice as dense as lead.
Properties of Osmium
- Atomic number
- 76
- Category
- Transition Metal
- Atomic mass
- 190.23 u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁶ 6s²
- Melting point
- 3306 K (3032.85 °C)
- Boiling point
- 5285 K (5011.85 °C)
- Density
- 22.587 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.2
- Appearance
- Silvery, blue-tinged metal
- Discovered by
- Smithson Tennant (1803)
Facts about Osmium
- Osmium is the densest element — a sugar-cube-sized piece weighs about half a pound!
- Osmium's name means "smell" because osmium tetroxide has a terrible odor!
- Osmium is so hard and brittle that it's difficult to work with!
- Osmium was once used in fountain pen tips because it resists wear!