osmium

[ oz-mee-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a hard, heavy, metallic element having the greatest density of the known elements and forming octavalent compounds, as OsO 4 and OsF 8 : used chiefly as a catalyst, in alloys, and in the manufacture of electric-light filaments. : Os; : 190.2; : 76; : 22.57.

osmium

/ ˈɒzmɪəm /

noun

1. a very hard brittle bluish-white metal occurring with platinum and alloyed with iridium in osmiridium: used to produce platinum alloys, mainly for pen tips and instrument pivots, as a catalyst, and in electric-light filaments. Symbol: Os; atomic no: 76; atomic wt: 190.2; valency: 0 to 8; relative density: 22.57; melting pt: 3033±30°C; boiling pt: 5012±100°C

osmium

/ ŏz′mē-əm /

1. A hard, brittle, bluish-white metallic element that is the densest naturally occurring element. It is used to make very hard alloys for fountain pen points, electrical contacts, and instrument pivots. Atomic number 76; atomic weight 190.2; melting point 3,000°C; boiling point 5,000°C; specific gravity 22.57; valence 2, 3, 4, 8.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of osmium¹

1795–1805; < New Latin < Greek osm ( ḗ ) smell + -ium -ium; named from the penetrating odor of one of its oxides

Word History and Origins

Origin of osmium¹

C19: from Greek osmē smell, so called from its penetrating odour

Example Sentences

But the osmium and uranium alloyed with it are something else.

From Project Gutenberg

Osmium 187 was stable, but it wasn't a normally used step toward Mercury 203.

From Project Gutenberg

The native alloy of osmium and iridium does not alloy with gold, however, but falls to the bottom of the molten metal.

From Project Gutenberg

The gold may contain an alloy of osmium and iridium; if so, it should be weighed and treated with aqua regia.

From Project Gutenberg

Even a chemist can see that that means a lack of heavy metals—no osmium, no uranium, no radium.

From Project Gutenberg