What is Osmium used for? What are its characteristics? | Detailed Explanation

In this essay, we will talk about the question “What is Osmium used for” and also will introduce you what are the characteristics of the metal Osmium.

Chemical properties of osmium

What is osmium used for? The application of chemical elements is closely related to their properties. So we will show you the chemical character of osmium before talking about the question “What is osmium used for”. Osmium, the element symbol Os, is the densest metal known in the periodic table. And its density reaches 22.48g/cm³. Osmium is gray-blue metal, hard and brittle, which will easily become powder in the iron mortar. Osmium powder is blue-black, and can spontaneously ignite. 

The metal Osmium is very stable in the air, but the Osmium in powdered form is easily oxidized. Concentrated aqua fortis and concentrated sulfuric acid can oxidize it. At room temperature, it is easy to react with oxygen to generate osmium oxide (OsO₂). When heated, powdery osmium can generate volatile and highly toxic osmium tetroxide.

What is Osmium used for?

Osmium is an extremely rare and expensive metal on the earth. Maybe somebody has the question “What is Osmium used for? Is its use limited?” just because it's rare. It's not! Osmium is very popular in many fields as follows.

1. Chemical industry: Osmium is often used as a catalyst in the chemical industry. For example, in the process of producing ammonia, the conversion rate is high at a low temperature with the catalytic effect of Osmium. Osmium metal also has high corrosion resistance to oxidizing acidic and alkaline substances, which can work stably in different kinds of harsh environments.

2. Electronic industry: Osmium has good electrical conductivity and is widely applied in the production of electronic components. For example, the metal Osmium film can be used to make capacitors, resistors and other electronic devices. It can also be used as electronic ray protection material to protect electronic goods from radiation damage.

3. Medical field: Osmium metal is a commonly used medical material, often used in the manufacture of medical devices, artificial joints and other internal supports. It has the characteristics of high strength, high corrosion resistance and wear resistance, and can be used for a long time without causing wear, falling off and other problems. Besides, the metal Osmium can also be compatible with human tissue, which will not produce allergic reactions and other problems.

4. Mechanical industry: The alloy made of Osmium can be used as bearings in watches and instruments, the manufacture of nibs and stylus, which can be used for many years without damage. Platinum is soft, but if you mix it with a little osmium, you can make a hard, sharp scalpel.

Discovery of Osmium

The discovery of Osmium began with the British chemist Smithson Tennant. In 1800, he established a business selling platinum in partnership with others and began producing a good deal of platinum. He noticed that when platinum was extracted from raw ore with aqua regia, a black insoluble residue was left. In 1804, he announced that Osmium was isolated from these remnants. The English name of Osmium is derived from the Greek word "Osme", meaning smelly, because its oxide has a special pungent smell.

Is Osmium harmful to the human?

After talking about the question “What is Osmium used for”, we also want to tell you whether Osmium is harmful to humans. 

Osmium vapor is highly poisonous, which will strongly stimulate the human eye mask, and will cause blindness in serious cases. Inhalation of Osmium vapor will damage the respiratory tract, even leading to bronchitis and pneumonia in serious situations. Osmium may cause combustion and explosion when it is in contact with or mixed with organic matter, reducing agents and inflammable substances. Ingestion of Osmium can burn the mouth and digestive tract and can be fatal in severe cases.

Conclusion: 

At the end of the article, let's sum up the topic of “What is Osmium used for”. In general, the metal Osmium, as a rare metal, has irreplaceable importance. Its advantages such as high corrosion resistance, good thermal stability, and well electrical conductivity make it become one of the important materials in the fields of medicine, the chemical industry and electronics.