Osmium

Chemical and physical properties of osmium:
Symbol: Os
Crystal system: hexagonal
Category: metal
Color: silvery
Transparency: none
Mohs scale hardeness: 7,0
Specific gravity: 22,59 g/cm³
Melting point: 3033 °C

An extremely brittle, unmachinable metal. It is used as a catalyst and as a carbide tool in combination with other platinum metals. It is used to make fountain pen tips, instrument bearings, electrical contacts, etc. It is a silvery white brittle metal. Its corrosion resistance is many times that of platinum. It’s rigidity makes it difficult to machine mechanically and it is only used as an alloy. A very rare element. It is used to make aerospace components, dental alloys, catalysts and instruments. Together with platinum, it forms an alloy that is wear-resistant and highly resistant to chemical attack. It improves the hardness and electrical conductivity of platinum. It is widely used in laser technology and radioactive testing.