Osmium (Os) Fun Facts
"The Densest, the heaviest and most compact hero on the planet."
The true essence of Osmium (Os) on the molecular frontier.
Osmium is a hard, brittle, bluish-white metal � the densest element.
Osmium is found in the durable, non-wearing tip of a high-end fountain pen.
Osmium is twice as dense as lead � a brick of it would be too heavy for most people to lift.
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Did You Know?
It is the densest naturally occurring element on Earth, approximately twice as dense as lead.
Its name comes from the Greek word 'osme', meaning 'smell', because its volatile oxide, osmium tetroxide, has a very sharp, unpleasant, chlorine-like odor.
Because it is extremely hard and wear-resistant, alloys of osmium are used to make the tips of high-end fountain pens, instrument pivots, and electrical contacts.
Osmium tetroxide is a powerful oxidizing agent and is used in chemical synthesis and as a stain for microscopy.
It is one of the rarest of the precious metals.