The periodic table/Osmium

Introduction

Osmium is a dense, rare metal with a blue tint. It’s the densest metal in the periodic table, with a density of 22.6 gram per cubic centimeter.

Quick Facts

Melting point: 3033 degrees Celsius. Boiling point: 5012 degrees Celsius.

Discovery

Osmium is discovered by S. Tennant in 1803.

Etymology

Osmium is named after Greek όσμή, scent, for its volatile oxide osmium tetroxide.

Industrial production

The main source of osmium is copper (II) sulfide ore. After the removal of copper, silver, gold, palladium, platinum, rhodium and iridium, separate ruthenium and precipitate osmium (VI) coordination compound. Heat it in hydrogen flow and osmium can be obtained in its metallic form.

Compound

Halide

Fluoride

Osmium have a series of fluorides.

Osmium heptafluoride

Osmium heptafluoride is a yellow solid. It is obtained by the reaction of osmium and fluorine under high pressure and heat. It’s unstable.

Osmium hexafluoride

Osmium hexafluoride is a yellow solid obtained at a slightly lower pressure.