Osmium is a blue-gray hard, brittle, and chemically inert transition metal found in trace amounts in platinum ores. With a melting point of 3,330°C (6,020°F), osmium is the densest natural element, twice as dense as lead. Its density is exceeded only by a few synthetic heavy metals. Osmium was discovered in 1803 by Smithson Tennant and named after the Greek word osme, meaning "smell", due to the metal's distinct odor.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Osmium has an atomic number of 76 and atomic mass of 190.23. Chemically, it is one of the Noble metals. It has a hexagonal close-packed crystalline structure and a melting point of 3033°C which is the highest among all naturally occurring elements. Osmium is one of the hardest metals known with a hardness rating of 4–4.5 on the Mohs scale.
This highly inert metal forms alloys with other platinum group metals like iridium and platinum. Osmium reacts slowly with halogens like fluorine, chlorine, and bromine at high temperatures to form interhalogen compounds. Due to its inert nature, almost pure osmium metal is needed for investigations.
Ores and Occurrence
Osmium is one of the rarest naturally occurring elements on Earth, with an estimated abundance of only 0.000,000,1 parts osmium per million parts of Earth's crust. It is typically found in nickel and copper deposits associated with the igneous rocks of the United States, Canada, Russia, South Africa and the Caribbean. Osmium is chiefly obtained as a by-product of nickel matte, copper, and cobalt processing from ores containing sulfur and arsenic.
The main commercial sources of osmium are platinum-group metals deposits in the Sudbury Basin, Ontario, Canada and the Copperbelt of Zambia and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Osmium concentrates are dark blue or black, flaky powders that impart a blue color when dissolved. Its distinctive smell resembles that of horseradish and could be detected when osmium trichloride is heated.
Applications
Due to its inertness and hardness, osmium finds various commercial applications. It is used to make fountain pen nibs, electrical contacts and other applications where extreme hardness and wear resistance are required. Small amounts of osmium are used to harden platinum and palladium and make them resistant to corrosion and wear.
Some other key applications include:
- Tool bits and metering device for aircraft engines due to hardness
- DVD and compact disc components for its durability and resistance to wear
- Catalyst in organic synthesis and fuel cell technology
- Electrical components including fixed resistors in precision circuits and instruments
- Alloys for very sharp knife blades and scalpel blades used in surgical equipment
- Osmium tetroxide is used as a mild oxidizing agent in organic synthesis and stain tissue for electron microscopy in biology
Osmium Market and Pricing
With growing industrial applications, the global demand for osmium is increasing. However, osmium is still considered one of the scarcest commodities in the marketplace due its low natural abundance, by-product recovery methods and difficulties involved in processing the ore to extract osmium concentrates.
The price of osmium is extremely volatile, primarily because its supply and demand are very low relative to other metals. In 2020, osmium price per ounce hovered around $60-$80 with notable fluctuations. The current price ranges from $40 to $80 per ounce, whereas prices were as high as $850 per ounce few years ago. Availability issues associated with osmium supply are likely to keep its price at elevated levels compared to other platinum group metals.
Uses in Other Applications
Aside from the industrial uses, osmium finds application in various other niche areas. Due to its hardness and blue color, osmium is used for jewelry items like rings and pendants. Some artisans make fountain pens with osmium crowns as an ultra-resistant component.
Its presence in meteorites has provided useful information about the early Solar System. Rising prospects in fuel cells and catalysts could potentially expand osmium's role in the future. Novel nanoalloys combining its hardness and stiffness properties are another emerging area of interest. However, more cost-effective extraction and processing techniques are required for osmium to be commercialized extensively.
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