Difference between revisions of "Osmium"

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(Created page with "Osmium is the chemical element with symbol '''Os '''and atomic number 76. === Chemical Properties === Osmium forms compounds with oxidation state from '''-2''' to '''8'''. It...")
 
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Osmium is the chemical element with symbol '''Os '''and atomic number 76.
 
Osmium is the chemical element with symbol '''Os '''and atomic number 76.
  
=== Chemical Properties ===
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=== Properties ===
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==== Chemical Properties ====
 
Osmium forms compounds with oxidation state from '''-2''' to '''8'''. It is slightly attacked by aqua regia, and by fuming nitric acid, and it is attacked by molten hydroxides. It forms the toxic osmium tetroxide ('''OsO<sub>4</sub>'''), the most common compound with '''+8''' oxidation state, in contact with air.  It forms coordination complexes easily.
 
Osmium forms compounds with oxidation state from '''-2''' to '''8'''. It is slightly attacked by aqua regia, and by fuming nitric acid, and it is attacked by molten hydroxides. It forms the toxic osmium tetroxide ('''OsO<sub>4</sub>'''), the most common compound with '''+8''' oxidation state, in contact with air.  It forms coordination complexes easily.
  
=== Physical Properties ===
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==== Physical Properties ====
It is a hard, brittle, and bluish transition metal and usually is found in traces in platinum ores. It is the densest element known, with a density of 22.6 g/cm<sup>3</sup>, slightly denser than iridium. It's almost twice as dense as lead. It melts at 3033 Cº.
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Osmium is a hard, brittle, and bluish transition metal and usually is found in traces in platinum ores. It is the densest element known, with a density of 22.6 g/cm<sup>3</sup>, slightly denser than iridium. It's almost twice as dense as lead. It melts at 3033 Cº, which makes it unfeasible for the amateur chemist to cast.
  
 
=== Availability ===
 
=== Availability ===
It is one of the most rare elements so prices are high. It can be bought online from Metallium. It has really few applications for home chemists.
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It is one of the rarest elements so it is quite expensive. It can be bought online from Metallium.
  
 
=== Safety ===
 
=== Safety ===
Osmium tetroxide is toxic and a powerful oxidant. Osmium powder is pyrophoric.
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Osmium tetroxide is toxic and a powerful oxidant, and it slowly forms through oxidation of fine osmium powder. Osmium powder is also pyrophoric. The bulk metal, however, is safe to keep.

Revision as of 01:38, 17 June 2015

Osmium is the chemical element with symbol Os and atomic number 76.

Properties

Chemical Properties

Osmium forms compounds with oxidation state from -2 to 8. It is slightly attacked by aqua regia, and by fuming nitric acid, and it is attacked by molten hydroxides. It forms the toxic osmium tetroxide (OsO4), the most common compound with +8 oxidation state, in contact with air. It forms coordination complexes easily.

Physical Properties

Osmium is a hard, brittle, and bluish transition metal and usually is found in traces in platinum ores. It is the densest element known, with a density of 22.6 g/cm3, slightly denser than iridium. It's almost twice as dense as lead. It melts at 3033 Cº, which makes it unfeasible for the amateur chemist to cast.

Availability

It is one of the rarest elements so it is quite expensive. It can be bought online from Metallium.

Safety

Osmium tetroxide is toxic and a powerful oxidant, and it slowly forms through oxidation of fine osmium powder. Osmium powder is also pyrophoric. The bulk metal, however, is safe to keep.