OSMIUM

190.23

191.961502

231-114-0

2E7M255OPY

TSCA listed

DTXSID5064679

C95182

Black

71104100

0

One of the important properties of osmium is the formation of gases when the metal isexposed to air. These fumes are extremely toxic, which limits osmium’s usefulness. Osmium is ahard, tough, brittle, bluish-white metal that is difficult to use except in a powder form that oxidizesinto osmium tetroxide (OsO4), which not only has objectionable odor but also is toxic.Osmium has a relatively high melting point of 3,054°C and a boiling point of 5,500°C,with a density of 22.61 g/cm3.

0.00000

Black sponge

22.61 g/cm3 (lit.)

3045 °C (lit.)

5027 °C (lit.)

attacked by aqua regia; barely affected by HCl, H2SO4 [MER06]

1.8 Pa (mm Hg) at 3050 deg C

LDLo ivn-dog: 17 mg/kg SMSJAR 26,131,1826

Ionic radius, 69 pm; crystal structure, hexagonal close packed; lattice constant, 273.41 pm; thermal expansion, 6.10X10+6 °C-1; magnetic susceptibility, 5.2X10-8 cu cm/g; Young's modulus, 5.56X10+8 kN/sq m; Poisson's ratio, 0.28; Vicker's hardness, 300-670; temperature coefficient of resistance 4.2X10-3 K-1; electrical resistivity at 0 °C, 8.12 microohm-cm; thermal conductivity, 88 W/m K|Valence 0 to 8, more usual, +3, +4, +6, +8; lustrous, bluish white, extremely hard and brittle even at high temperatures, the solid metal is not affected by air at room temperature, but the powdered or spongy metal slowly gives off osmium tetroxide following oxidation in air|Seven naturally occurring isotopes: (184)Os, 0.02%; (186)Os, 1.6%; (187)Os, 1.6%; (188)Os, 13.3%; (189)Os, 16.1%; (190)Os, 26.4%; (192)Os, 41.0%; artificial radioactive isotopes: 181-183; 185;191;193-195; specific heat at 0 °C, 0.0309 cal/g °C; Mohs' hardness, 7.0|Stable in air in the cold; when finely divided, is slowly oxidized by air even at ordinary temperatures to form tetroxide; attacked by fluorine above 100 °C; by dry chlorine on heating; not attacked by bromine or iodine; attacked by aqua regia, by oxidizing acids over a long period of time; barely affected by HCl, H2SO4; burns in vapor of phosphorus to form phosphide; in vapor of sulfur to form sulfide; attacked by molten alkali hydrosulfates, by potassium hydroxide and oxidizing agents; finely divided osmium absorbs a considerable amount of hydrogen|For more Other Experimental Properties (Complete) data for OSMIUM, ELEMENTAL (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

II

4.1

UN 3089 4.1/PG 2

-

F,Xi

16-26-36/37/39

RN1100000

F,Xi

Color Code—Blue: Health Hazard/Poison(osmium tetroxide): Store in a secure poison location. Priorto working with this chemical you should be trained on itsproper handling and storage. Store refrigerated in tightlyclosed containers away from hydrochloric acid, reducingagents and easily oxidized materials. Where possible, automatically pump liquid from drums or other storage containers to process containers. Sources of ignition, such assmoking and open flames, are prohibited where this chemical is handled, used, or stored. Metal containers involvingthe transfer of 5 gallons or more of this chemical should begrounded and bonded. Drums must be equipped with selfclosing valves, pressure vacuum bungs, and flame arresters. Use only nonsparking tools and equipment, especially whenopening and closing containers of this chemical. Whereverthis chemical is used, handled, manufactured, or stored, useexplosion-proof electrical equipment and fittings. SeeOSHA Standard 1910.104 and NFPA 43A Code for theStorage of Liquid and Solid Oxidizers for detailed handlingand storage regulations.

Stable in air in the cold; when finely divided, is slowly oxidized by air even at ordinary temperature to form tetroxide.

P210-P261-P280-P305 + P351 + P338

Most of the oxides of osmium are not noxious, but are toxic if inhaled or ingested. Thecompound OsO4is extremely poisonous. It is a powerful oxidizing agent that is soluble inwater and will produce serious burns in skin as it oxidizes the various layers of tissues.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Osmium tetroxide is a strong oxidizer. Reacts with combustibles and reducing materials. Reacts with hydrochloric acid to form toxic chlorine gas. Forms unstable compounds with alkalis.

UN 3089 4.1/PG 2

|Danger|H228 (91.49%): Flammable solid [Danger Flammable solids]|P210, P240, P241, P261, P264, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P312, P321, P332+P313, P362, P370+P378, P403+P233, P405, and P501|Aggregated GHS information provided by 47 companies from 6 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Flammable in the form of dust when exposed to heat or flame.

SRP: Local exhaust ventilation should be applied wherever there is an incidence of point source emissions or dispersion of regulated contaminants in the work area. Ventilation control of the contaminant as close to its point of generation is both the most economical and safest method to minimize personnel exposure to airborne contaminants.|...Workers dealing with metallic osmium should be protected from the hazards of osmium tetroxide vapor by adequate ventilation. /Osmium Tetraoxide/

Osmium belongs to the platinum group metals (ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium and platinum), which are often found together in nature(1). In the lithosphere, the estimated concentration of platinum group metals range from 0.05 to 0.5 ppm(2). Osmium's elemental abundance is 0.001 ppm(1). During the formation of the earth, the six platinum group metals were most likely concentrated within the earth's iron-nickel core(4). Platinum group metals can be transferred from the earth's interior to the lithosphere by tectonic movements of the earth's crust followed by the eruption of magma(2). Osmium is found in the alloy osmiridium and in all platinum ores(3).

ACGIH: Ceiling 2 ppmOSHA: Ceiling 5 ppm(7 mg/m3)NIOSH: IDLH 50 ppm; Ceiling 5 ppm(7 mg/m3)

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway. Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if needed. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with normal saline during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Poison A and B/|Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in respiratory arrest. Positive pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias as necessary ... . Start an IV with D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. Watch for signs of fluid overload. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam (Valium) ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Poison A and B/

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ Osmium metal itself... /is/ probably not harmful to the human organism. Already at relatively low temperatures, however, both osmium and its alloys are oxidized to volatile osmium tetroxide, which is toxic and strongly irritating.

Osmium

Osmium: ACTIVE|Osmium easily forms alloys with other platinum group metals and with iron, cobalt, and nickel.

Method: EPA-NERL 252.2; Procedure: Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry; Analyte: osmium; Matrix: water; Detection Limit: 20 ug/L.|Gravimetric techniques are still widely used for all the platinum-group metals but require correct preseparation procedures. The examination of solid materials is carried out by using either x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, where the use of matrixed-matched standards is essential, or dc-arc spectrography and spectrometry, where setup, sampling, and standardization are all element-specific. The most widely used method for determining low concentrations of the platinum-group metals in solution is atomic absorption spectrometry, which is useful for single element determinations but slow and laborious for multiple elements. Plasma emission spectrometry is the method of choice for rapid multielement analysis. Detection limits are 0.1-10 ppm. For two-orders-of-magnitude lower detection limits, the plasma mass spectrometer is used in specialist platinum-group metal laboratories. /Platinum Group Metals/