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Osmium
Osmium (Os) is a hard, brittle transition metal and one of the densest naturally occurring elements. With a bluish-silver luster, it exhibits extreme resistance to compression and wear. Osmium’s high melting point (3033 °C) and remarkable density (~22.59 g/cm³) make it ideal for specialized scientific and industrial applications.
Goodfellow supplies high-purity osmium materials for advanced research and specialized industrial applications. Renowned for its exceptional density, hardness, and corrosion resistance, Osmium is a key component in catalysis, materials science, and electrochemistry. Its unique characteristics make it indispensable in creating durable electrical contacts, robust hard alloys, and advanced coating technologies. With applications spanning analytical instrumentation, high-performance materials, and energy storage solutions, Goodfellow’s osmium drives groundbreaking R&D in both academia and industry, enabling laboratory innovation and high-precision technologies, electrochemical systems, and sustainable materials.
Properties
Identifiers
Isotopes
Applications
Grades
Synonyms
General Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 76 |
| Density | 22.59 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 3033 °C |
| Boiling Point | 5012 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 87.6 W/m·K |
| Electrical Resistivity | 81 nΩ·m |
| Crystal Structure | Hexagonal Close-Packed (HCP) |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 410–500 MPa (estimated) |
| Hardness | Brinell 392 |
| Young’s Modulus | 550 GPa |
| Poisson’s Ratio | 0.25 |
Chemical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Corrosion Resistance | Very high; resistant to most acids |
| Reactivity | Stable in air; forms toxic OsO₄ on oxidation |
| Oxidation States | +8, +4, +3, +6 |
| Volatile Compounds | Forms osmium tetroxide (OsO₄) |
| Identifier | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Os |
| Atomic Number | 76 |
| CAS Number | 7440-04-2 |
| UN Number | UN3089 (powder) |
| EINECS Number | 231-114-0 |
| Isotope | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Os-184 | Stable | Natural abundance: ~0.02% |
| Os-186 | Stable | Natural abundance: ~1.6% |
| Os-187 | Stable | Natural abundance: ~1.6% |
| Os-188 | Stable | Natural abundance: ~13.3% |
| Os-189 | Stable | Natural abundance: ~16.1% |
| Os-190 | Stable | Natural abundance: ~26.4% |
| Os-192 | Stable | Natural abundance: ~41.0% |
Scientific Applications
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Electron Microscopy | Osmium tetroxide (OsO₄) used as a staining agent in biological sample prep |
| Isotope Geochemistry | Os isotopes used in tracing mantle-crust processes |
| Hard Coatings | Used in ultra-hard coating research and development |
| Thin-Film Deposition | Applied in sputtering targets for high-density materials |
Industrial Applications
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Fountain Pen Tips | Alloyed with Iridium for extreme wear resistance |
| Electrical Contacts | Osmium alloys resist arc erosion in electrical systems |
| Medical Implants | Used in implants for its strength and biocompatibility (limited) |
| Catalysis | OsO₄ used as a powerful oxidizing agent in organic synthesis |
| High-Density Alloys | Used in wear-resistant and high-strength superalloys |
| Purity | Description |
|---|---|
| 99.9% (3N) | High-quality Osmium suitable for research, catalyst preparation, and powder metallurgy applications. |
| Synonym |
|---|
| Osmium Metal |
| Osmium Precious Metal |
| Elemental Osmium |
| Element 76 |