Osmium

By: Jeff da Jelly Bean

Here are some flakes of Osmium:

This is the electron configuration of Osmium (the way the electrons orbit it):

Osmium was discovered in 1803 by Smithson Tennant. It gets its name from Osme, the Greek word for smell (so bromine and osmium smell?). It is a transition metal, so it is also shiny, bluish white, hard, and brittle.

Here are some stats on Osmium:

Osmium is in Group 8, Period 6. It is a Platinum Group Metal. It has 76 electrons and 2 valence electrons. Its atomic number is 76, with an atomic mass of 190. Its atomic weight is 190.23. The CAS Registry ID of Osmium is 7440-04-2. Natural isotopes of the element are Os-184, Os-186, Os-187, Os-188, Os-189, Os-190, and Os-192. The radioisotopes are Os-182, Os-183, Os-185, Os-191, Os-193, and Os-194. In standard state, though, it is not radioactive, and not affected by air at room temperature. It melts at arouind 3045 ºC, and boils at around 5027 ºC. It superconducts at 0.66 K (barely above absolute zero, the lowest temperature). It gives off osmium tetroxide which is toxic and smelly. Osmium occurs naturally, can be found in the sun, in certain rocks, and meteorites.

Uses of Osmium:

It is used to make fountain pen tips, instrument pivots, electrical contacts, implants such as pacemakers and replacement valves, detect fingerprints, and to stain fatty tissue.