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- Name : Osmium
- Symbol : Os
- Atomic # : 76
- Atom weight: 190.2
- Melting P. : 3054
- Boiling P. : 5027
- Oxidation : +3, +4
- Pronounced : OZ-mi-em
- From : Greek, osme, "odor"
- Identified : Smithson Tennant in 1803
- Appearance : Blue-white, lustrous, hard metal
- Note : The oxides of osmium emit highly toxic gasses
-
- [Properties]
-
- Osmium is a tough, lustrous metal that takes on a slight blush color as
- a thin film of the oxide forms on the exposed surfaces. Powdered osmium
- emits the telltale odor of the deadly poison, osmium tetroxide.
- Osmium is one of the Group-VIII elements. Its chemistry and history are
- closely associated with platinum (Pt) and even more with iridium (Ir).
- Notice that all three of these elements - osmium, iridium, and platinum -
- are Group-VIII elements that are lined up in the same series on the
- periodic table.
-