Osmium
Chemistry: Foundations and Applications
|
2004
|
|
Copyright 2004, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company. (Hide copyright information)
Copyright
Osmium
melting point: 3,127°C
boiling point: 5,303°C
density: 22.590 g/cm 3
most common ions: OsCl 63−, OsCl 62−
The element osmium was discovered in 1804 by English chemist Smithson Tennant (1761–1815) in the black residue that remained after crude platinum was dissolved in aqua regia. The average abundance in Earth's crust is very low, about 0.005 grams (0.00018 ounces) per metric ton, and only four osmium-containing minerals, all extremely rare, are known: erlichmanite, OsS2; omeiite, (Os,Ru)As2; and osarsite and anduoite, (Os,Ru)AsS. Osmium also occurs in natural alloys with iridium and/or ruthenium (e.g., iridosmium). Osmium is obtained as a by-product of refining nickel and the more common platinum group metals . Worldwide production is very small, approximately 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) per year (versus 2,500,000 kilograms, or 5,512,000 pounds, per year for gold). Despite its rarity, osmium is only 30 percent more expensive than gold because it has few commercial uses. Osmium metal is lustrous, bluish-white, hard, and brittle; it melts at 3,127°C (5,661°F) and boils at 5,303°C (9,577°F). It is the densest element known: Its density is 22.59 grams (0.8 ounces) per cubic centimeter (twice that of lead). Osmium is combined with other platinum group elements to yield extremely hard alloys, which find limited use as electrical contacts, wear-resistant instrument pivots and bearings, and tips for high-priced ink pens. Osmium forms compounds in all of its oxidation states, from +8 to −2. Its chemistry closely resembles that of ruthenium. The most important compound is osmium tetroxide, OsO4, a pale yellow solid used as a stain in microscopy, in fingerprint detection, and as a catalyst in the production of some pharmaceuticals. Osmium tetroxide has an unpleasant chlorinelike odor, which prompted Tennant to name the element using the Greek word osme, "a smell."
Gregory S. Girolami
Bibliography
Emsley, John (2001). Nature's Building Blocks: An A–Z Guide to the Elements. New York: Oxford University Press.
Internet Resources
Winter, Mark. "WebElements." Available from <http://www.webelements.com>.
Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.
|
Chesapeake and American Gold Announce Completion of Business Combination.
News Wire article from: Canadian Corporate News; 2/26/2007; 700+ words
; ...Feb 26, 2007 (CCNMatthews via COMTEX) -- Chesapeake Gold Corp. ( Chesapeake ) (TSX VENTURE:CKG) and American Gold Capital...B.C. Ltd. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake) and Chesapeake was completed on February 23...
|
|
Chesapeake Energy Corporation Announces Agreement to Participate in the Oil and Gas Activities of Greystone Oil & Gas LLP.
PR Newswire; 10/26/2004; 700+ words
; ...New Company After May 2004 Sale to Chesapeake; New Company Will Continue Focus in the Ark-La-Tex Region Chesapeake Energy Corporation announced today...Petroleum LLC, a company purchased by Chesapeake in May 2004 for $425 million. The...
|
|
Chesapeake Corporation Announces Organizational Changes And New Officer Appointments
PR Newswire; 8/12/1998; 700+ words
; ...Following its board meeting on August 11, Chesapeake Corporation (NYSE: CSK) announced...September 1, the two largest businesses of Chesapeake will be headed by executive vice presidents...to reflect the growing importance of Chesapeake's strategic business development function...
|
|
CHESAPEAKE ARBORETUM CULTURAL EVENT TO BENEFIT 3 CIVIC GROUPS IT'S A FUND-RAISER FOR ARBORETUM, THE WOMEN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CIVIC CHORUS.(CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER)
Newspaper article from: The Virginian Pilot; 8/15/1997; ; 700+ words
; ...do is plan on attending the first ever Chesapeake Arboretum Cultural Event, taking place...Dorothy M. Kowalsky, president of the Chesapeake Arboretum and planning coordinator for the Chesapeake Planning Commission, the event will...
|
|
Chesapeake, Va., Conference Center Seeks to Attract Visitors from Afar.
Newspaper article from: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News); 9/24/2002; 700+ words
; Byline: Doug Beizer Sep. 24--CHESAPEAKE, Va.--When the Chesapeake Conference Center opened its doors five years ago...like to see more out-of-region groups choose Chesapeake as a place to meet. In July, city leaders created...
|
|
Chesapeake Energy Corporation Reports 1998 Third Quarter Results.
PR Newswire; 11/5/1998; 700+ words
; ...OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) today...1997 third quarter. On a daily basis, Chesapeake's production increased to 394 million...produced during the 1997 third quarter. Chesapeake's operating cash flow, before changes...
|
|
Chesapeake Energy Corporation Announces Acquisition of Kerr-McGee Tower from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and Subsequent Sale of Tower to SandRidge Energy, Inc.
Business Wire; 7/12/2007; 700+ words
; OKLAHOMA CITY -- Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) and SandRidge...transaction by which SandRidge acquired from Chesapeake certain downtown Oklahoma City real estate assets that Chesapeake acquired from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation...
|
|
Chesapeake General's boss pleased with progress.
Newspaper article from: Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA); 3/6/2007; 700+ words
; Byline: Nancy Young Mar. 6--CHESAPEAKE -- The strategy sessions of the Chesapeake Hospital Authority often take place behind...specifics on those sessions, Christopher Mosley , Chesapeake Health's president and chief executive officer...
|
|
Chesapeake Corporation Announces New Officer Appointments.
PR Newswire; 7/30/2007; 700+ words
; ...July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chesapeake Corporation today announced that Joel...organization," said Andrew J. Kohut, Chesapeake's president & chief executive...company in 1992 as president of the Chesapeake's land development businesses, Delmarva...
|
|
CHESAPEAKE HAS SWIMMERS BUT NO PUBLIC POOLS.(LOCAL)
Newspaper article from: The Virginian Pilot; 7/29/1998; 700+ words
; ...Byline: HARRY A. MURPHY The city of Chesapeake is blessed with an abundance of lakes...high quality of life. However, new Chesapeake residents from such world-renowned...doing more than just treading water in Chesapeake. There are at least seven private clubs...
|
|
Chesapeake Bay
Book article from: Water:Science and Issues
Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay is North America's largest estuary and has a shoreline of...and cuts the state into two parts. In addition to Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin includes parts of the states of West Virginia...
|
|
Chesapeake Corporation
Book article from: International Directory of Company Histories
Chesapeake Corporation 1021 East Gary Street P.O. Box 2350...2611 Pulp Mills A paper and packaging company, Chesapeake Corporation recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Chesapeake ’ s primary businesses are tissue and...
|
|
Chesapeake, USS
Book article from: The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea
Chesapeake, USS, one of the six original frigates...the command of James Lawrence, the Chesapeake left Boston Harbour to fight the British...led a boarding party aboard the Chesapeake . Lawrence was killed and the Chesapeake...
|
|
Chesapeake Colonies
Dictionary entry from: Dictionary of American History
CHESAPEAKE COLONIES CHESAPEAKE COLONIES, Maryland and Virginia, grew slowly from 1607 to 1630...transporting hogsheads of tobacco. Ship captains searched throughout Chesapeake Bay for the larger planters' wharves with storehouses, called...
|
|
Chesapeake-Leopard Incident
Dictionary entry from: Dictionary of American History
CHESAPEAKE-LEOPARD INCIDENT CHESAPEAKE-LEOPARD INCIDENT, one of the events leading up to the War...June 1807 off Hampton Roads, Virginia, the American frigate Chesapeake was stopped by the British ship Leopard, whose commander demanded...
|