A group of chemical elements that have the properties of metals is called heavy metals. Their characteristic feature is high atomic weight and high densities.
There are several definitions of this group, but in any interpretation, an indispensable indicator is:
- atomic weight (this figure should be above 50);
- density (it must exceed the density of iron - 8 g / cm3).
In general, at heavy metal classification Important metrics:
- chemical properties;
- physical properties;
- biological activity;
- toxicity.
No less relevant is the factor of presence in the industrial and economic spheres.
The heaviest metal
Scientists are still arguing which metal is the heaviest:
- osmium (atomic mass - 76);
- iridium (atomic mass - 77).
The mass of both metals differs literally by thousandths.
Iridium opened in 1803 by the Englishman Tennut.
The scientist worked with polymetallic ore, in which the presence of silver, platinum and lead was observed in different proportions.
To the astonishment of the chemist, iridium was also there. The find of the English chemist was unique, since there is practically no iridium in the earth's crust. It is found only if a meteorite has ever fallen at the search site. Scientists tend to believe that the small presence of iridium in the earth's crust is due precisely to its mass. There is a scientific opinion that most of the iridium literally "leaked" into the center of the earth's crust at the time of the birth of the Earth.
The main features of iridium are:
- resistance to any mechanical and chemical effects (iridium is practically not amenable to any processing);
- enormous chemical inertness.
In industry, the iridium isotope is used by paleontologists at excavations to determine which ones are artificial.
Osmium was discovered a year later - in 1804. It has also been found in polymetallic ore. This metal is also processed with the greatest difficulty, both chemical and mechanical.
On planet Earth, osmium is found, like iridium, in the places where meteorites fall.
However, there are several regions in which large deposits of osmium are noted:
- Kazakhstan;
- America;
- South Africa (here the osmium deposit is especially large).
In industry, osmium is used in the manufacture of incandescent lamps. In addition, it is used where refractory materials are required. And because of the increased density of osmium, doctors took it into service - surgical instruments are made from it.
Heavy metals in soil
The very definition of "heavy" is often considered by specialists not in the chemical aspect, but in the medical one. In addition, for ecologists, this term is also relevant in determining the degree of danger of an object for environmental protection.
The presence of heavy metals in the soil depends on the composition of the rock. Rocks, in turn, are formed in the process of development of territories. The chemical composition of the soil is represented by the products of rock weathering and depends on the conditions of multiple transformation.
In the modern world, human anthropogenic activity largely determines the composition of the soil. Heavy metals are a factor in soil pollution. They are classified as toxicants because they are all toxic to some extent.
In the process of human industrial activity, heavy metals are often mixed with:
The task of environmental scientists is to create conditions that prevent the dispersion of toxicants in the biosphere.
We all love metals. Cars, bicycles, kitchen appliances, drink cans, and more are all made of metal. Metal is the cornerstone of our lives. But sometimes it can be very difficult.
When we talk about the gravity of a particular metal, we usually mean its density, that is, the ratio of mass to the volume occupied.
Another way to measure the "weight" of metals is their relative atomic mass. The heaviest metals in terms of relative atomic mass are plutonium and uranium.
If you want to know which metal is the heaviest, if we consider its density, then we are happy to help you. Here are the top 10 heaviest metals on Earth, with their density per cubic cm.
10. Tantalum - 16.67 g / cm³
Tantalum is an important component in many modern technologies. In particular, it is used for the production of capacitors, which are used in computers and mobile phones.
9. Uranium - 19.05 g / cm³
This is the heaviest element on Earth, given its atomic mass - 238.0289 g / mol. In its pure form, uranium is a silvery-brown heavy metal that is almost twice as dense as lead.
Like plutonium, uranium is a necessary ingredient for building nuclear weapons.
8. Tungsten - 19.29 g / cm³
Considered one of the densest elements in the world. In addition to its exceptional properties (high thermal and electrical conductivity, very high resistance to acids and abrasion), tungsten also has three unique properties:
- After carbon, it has the highest melting point, plus 3422°C. And its boiling point, plus 5555°C, is roughly comparable to the surface temperature of the sun.
- It accompanies tin ores, but prevents the smelting of tin, turning it into slag foam. For this, he got his name, which in German means "wolf cream".
- Tungsten has the lowest coefficient of linear expansion when heated of all metals.
7. Gold - 19.29 g / cm³
Since ancient times, people have been buying, selling and even killing for this precious metal. Yes, people, entire countries are engaged in buying up gold. The current leader is America. And it is unlikely that the time will come when there will be no need for gold.
They say money doesn't grow on trees, but gold does! A small amount of gold can be found in eucalyptus leaves if it is on gold-bearing soil.
6. Plutonium - 19.80 g / cm³
The sixth heaviest metal in the world is one of the most needed components for. And he is a real chameleon in the world of elements. Plutonium exhibits a colorful oxidation state in aqueous solutions, ranging in color from light purple and chocolate to light orange and green. 
The color depends on the degree of oxidation of plutonium and acid salts.
5. Neptunium - 20.47 g / cm³
This silvery metal, named after the planet Neptune, was discovered by chemist Edwin Macmillan and geochemist Philip Abelson in 1940. It is used to obtain the sixth number on our list, plutonium.
4. Rhenium - 21.01 g / cm³
The word "Rhenium" comes from the Latin Rhenus, which means "Rhine". It is not difficult to guess that this metal was discovered in Germany. The honor of its discovery belongs to the German chemists Ida and Walter Noddak. It is the last element discovered to have a stable isotope.
Due to its very high melting point, rhenium (in the form of alloys with molybdenum, tungsten and other metals) is used to create components for rocketry and aviation.
3. Platinum - 21.40 g / cm³
One of those on this list (other than Osmium and California-252) is used in a variety of applications from jewelry to the chemical industry and space technology. In Russia, the leader in the production of platinum metal is MMC Norilsk Nickel. About 25 tons of platinum is mined annually in the country.
2. Osmium - 22.61 g / cm³
The brittle and at the same time extremely hard metal is rarely used in its pure form. It is mainly mixed with other dense metals such as platinum to create very sophisticated and expensive surgical equipment.
The name "osmium" comes from the ancient Greek word for "smell". When the alkaline alloy of osmiridium is dissolved in the liquid, a sharp amber appears, similar to the smell of chlorine or rotten radish.
1. Iridium - 22.65 g / cm³ - the heaviest metal
This metal can rightfully claim to be the element with the highest density. However, disputes about which metal is heavier - iridium or osmium, are still ongoing. And the thing is that any impurity can reduce the density of these metals, and obtaining them in their pure form is a very difficult task.
The theoretical calculated density of iridium is 22.65 g/cm³. It is almost three times heavier than iron (7.8 g/cm³). And almost twice as heavy as the heaviest liquid metal - mercury (13.6 g / cm³).
Like osmium, iridium was discovered by the English chemist Smithson Tennant in the early 19th century. It is curious that Tennant found iridium not at all purposefully, but by accident. It was found in an impurity left after the dissolution of platinum.
Iridium is primarily used as a platinum alloy hardener for equipment that must withstand high temperatures. It is processed from platinum ore and is a by-product of nickel mining.
The name "iridium" is translated from ancient Greek as "rainbow". This is due to the presence of salts of various colors in the metal.
The heaviest metal in Mendeleev's periodic table is very rare in terrestrial substances. Therefore, its high concentration in rock samples is a marker of their meteorite origin. About 10,000 kilograms of iridium are mined every year around the world. Its largest supplier is South Africa.
Hello, friends!
Did you know that initially the periodic table contained a zero group, in which ether was on a par with inert gases? Although today is not about that.
10 million dollars - this is the amount 1 gram is estimated at. The second place in terms of rarity, respectively, and in price, is occupied by osmium.
In addition, it is also the heaviest metal in the world, although some scientists believe that iridium should occupy this position.
To determine which is heavier, you need to compare the atomic weight and see which has a higher density. According to these indicators, osmium and iridium, which is inferior to it by fractions of cubic centimeters, are considered the heaviest today. Imagine: an osmium cube with 8 cm sides weighs almost 12 kg!
I propose to look at the photo of the heaviest metal:
And this is iridium:
Handsome, aren't they?
Top 10 heaviest metals in the world
I suggest that you familiarize yourself with the elements according to their rating.
Tantalum
Considered a rare and not very heavy metal, it has a density of 16.65 g/cm³. It is used by surgeons - it is practically indestructible and rusty, easy to process.
Uranus
The density of uranium is 19.07 g/cm³. Its main difference from its counterparts is natural radioactivity. In the process of transformation that uranium atoms undergo, the substance turns into another radiating element. The chain of transformations consists of 14 stages, one of them is the transformation into radium, the last stage is the formation of lead. True, it will take more than one billion years for the complete transition of uranium to lead.
Tungsten
Tungsten (19.25 g/cm³) is jokingly referred to as an ideal candidate for counterfeiting gold bars. This is the most refractory material, the melting point is close to the photosphere of the Sun - 3422 ° C. Therefore, it is best suited for coils in incandescent lamps.
Gold
The density of gold is 19.3 g/cm³. Soft, ductile, with good thermal and electrical conductivity, it is not afraid of chemical attack. Gold is not only on the surface of the Earth. 5 times more of it is contained in the core of the planet.
Plutonium
This element is one of the steps in the radioactive transformation of uranium. It also exists in the bowels of the planet, but in scanty quantities. Its density is 19.7 g/cm³. Due to its radioactivity, plutonium is always warm, but it is a poor conductor of current and heat.
Neptunium
This is another brainchild of uranium obtained in the course of nuclear reactions. Density - 20.25 grams per cubic centimeter. Neptunium is a fairly soft and malleable material that slowly reacts with air and water.
Rhenium
Rhenium is another refractory, malleable, oxidation-resistant element. Melting point - 2000 °C. In total, the world's reserves of the element are approximately 17,000 tons. The density of rhenium is 21.03 g/cm³. It is used in medicine, jewelry, vacuum technology, electronic devices and metallurgy.
Platinum
Platinum - although not the heaviest metal, is quite close to this - 21.45 g / cm³. It is used not only by jewelers, but also by surgeons, investment professionals, chemical and glass industries, automotive, biomedicine and electronics. , and products made from it are difficult to scratch. This element is found 30 times less often than gold.
Osmium
The density of 22.6 g/cm³ is the heaviest metal in the world, it is hard, but rather brittle. No matter how you heat it, it will not lose its luster and gray-bluish tint under any circumstances. It is difficult to process, mainly occurs in places where meteorites fall.
Iridium
The difference between iridium and osmium in density is in hundredths of a gram. Iridium is refractory, rare, precious. Does not interact with acids, air and water. It is used to control welds, and in paleontology and geology it is used as an indicator of the layer formed after the fall of a meteorite.
Characteristics of the densest metal
Scientists agreed that, despite almost the same density, iridium is quite a bit inferior to the heaviest metal. However, the full physicochemical properties of these two elements have not yet been studied.
The cost of osmium is determined by the rarity and laboriousness of extraction - an average of $15,000 per gram. It is included in the platinum group and is conditionally considered noble, but the name of the metal contradicts the status: in Greek, “osme” means “smell”. Due to its high chemical activity, osmium smells like a mixture of garlic or radish with chlorine.
The melting point of the heaviest metal is 3033 °C, and it boils at 5012 °C.
Solidifying from the melt, osmium forms beautiful crystals with an interesting blue or silver-blue tint. But, despite its beauty, it is not suitable for making precious accessories, as it does not have the properties necessary for jewelers: malleability and plasticity.
The element is valuable only because of its special strength. Alloys, to which very small doses of the heaviest metal are added, become incredibly wear-resistant. Usually they cover nodes that are subjected to constant friction.
Discovery history
The years 1803-1804 became a turning point for the heaviest metal: it was at this time that its discovery took place practically in competition conditions.
First, the English chemist Smithson Tennant and his assistant William Hyde Wollaston, who made more than one important discovery, discovered an unusual precipitate with a characteristic odor during an experiment with platinum ores and nitric and hydrochloric acids and shared their find with others.
Then the French scientists Antoine de Fourcroix and Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin took over the baton and, based on previous and their own research, announced the discovery of a new element. The name was given to him "pten", which means "flying", since as a result of the experiments they received flying black smoke.
However, Tennant did not sleep: he continued his research and did not lose sight of the experiences of the French. In the end, Smithson achieved more concrete results and, in an official document sent to the Royal Society of London, indicated that he had divided Pten into two related elements: iridium (“rainbow”) and osmium (“smell”).
Where apply
The list of applications is quite extensive: aviation, military and rocket technology, aerospace industry, medicine. Although weapons manufacturers are already thinking about how to replace the world's heaviest metal, since osmium is too difficult to process.
Almost half of the world's reserves of the heaviest metal are given to the needs of the chemical industry. They stain living tissues under a microscope, ensuring their safety. In addition, it is used as a dye when painting porcelain.
Isotopes of the heaviest metal are used to make containers for storing nuclear waste.
And this element is also used for the manufacture of elite "eternal" fountain pens and Rolex watches.
Places of natural occurrence
In its pure form, osmium is almost impossible to detect. This heavy element is usually found in conjunction with iridium. The substance is also contained at the place of impact or in the meteorites themselves that hit the Earth.
Conclusion
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The heaviest metals in the world
Metals
humanity began to actively use as early as 3000-4000 BC. Then people got to know the most widespread of these, it is gold, silver, copper. These metals were very easy to find on the surface of the earth. A little later, they learned chemistry and began to isolate from them such species as tin, lead and iron. In the Middle Ages, very poisonous types of metals gained popularity. Arsenic was in common use, with which more than half of the royal court in France was poisoned. So is mercury, which helped to cure various diseases of those times, ranging from tonsillitis to plague. Already before the twentieth century, more than 60 metals were known, and at the beginning of the XXI century - 90. Progress does not stand still and leads humanity forward. But the question arises, which metal is heavy and outweighs all the rest? And in general, what are they, these heaviest metals in the world?Many
They mistakenly think that gold and lead are the heaviest metals. Why exactly did it happen? Many of us grew up with old movies and saw how the main character uses a lead plate to protect himself from vicious bullets. In addition, lead plates are still used today in some types of body armor. And at the word gold, many people have a picture with heavy ingots of this metal. But to think that they are the heaviest is wrong!To determine the heaviest metal, one must take into account its density, because the greater the density of a substance, the heavier it is.
TOP 10 the heaviest metals in the world
1. Osmium
(22.62 g / cm 3),2. (22.53 g / cm 3),
3. Platinum (21.44 g / cm 3),
4. Rhenium (21.01 g / cm 3),
5. Neptunium (20.48 g / cm 3),
6. Plutonium (19.85 g / cm 3),
7. Gold (19.85 g/cm3)
8. Tungsten (19.21 g / cm 3),
9. Uranium (18.92 g / cm 3),
10. Tantalum (16.64 g/cm3).
And where is the pig? And it is located much lower in this list, in the middle of the second ten.
Osmium and iridium - the heaviest metals in the world
Consider main heavyweights who share 1st and 2nd places. Let's start with iridium and at the same time say thanks to the English scientist Smithson Tennat, who in 1803 received this chemical element from platinum, where he was present along with osmium as an impurity. With ancient Greek can be translated as "rainbow". The metal has a white color with a silver tint and can be called not only heavy, but also the most durable. There is very little of it on our planet and only up to 10,000 kg of it is mined per year. It is known that most deposits of iridium can be found at the sites of meteorite impacts. Some scientists come to the conclusion that this metal was previously widespread on our planet, however, due to its weight, it constantly squeezed itself closer to the center of the Earth. is now widely in demand in industry and is used to generate electrical energy. Paleontologists also like to use it, and with the help of iridium they determine the age of many finds. In addition, this metal can be used to coat some surfaces. But it's hard to do so.
Further consider . It is the heaviest in the periodic table of Mendeleev, well, respectively, and the heaviest metal in the world. Osmium is tin-white with a blue hue and was also discovered by Smithson Tennat at the same time as iridium. Osmium is almost impossible to process and is mainly found at the sites of meteorite impacts. It smells unpleasant, smells like a mixture of chlorine and garlic. And with ancient Greek translates as "smell". The metal is quite refractory and is used in light bulbs and other refractory metal appliances. For just one gram of this element, you have to pay more than 10,000 dollars, from which it is clear that the metal is very rare.
Osmium
Howdon't say it, the heaviest metals are very rare and therefore they are expensive. And we must remember for the future that neither gold nor lead are the heaviest metals in the world! and - here are the winners in weight!
Platinum is a heavy, soft, silvery-white metal.
Rhenium is a dense, silvery-white hard metal.
Neptunium is a silvery white radioactive soft metal.
Updated: 05.11.2019 14:38:43
Judge: Zalman Rivlin
*Overview of the best in the opinion of the editors of the site. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Our planet is rich in valuable resources, but there are those whose quantity is measured in crumbs. Oddly enough, these elements are among the most sought after in the world. Among them are heavy metals. Just imagine, an 8-cm cube of the heaviest metal in the world weighs as much as 12 kg (!). Today we will talk about the "heavyweights" in the world of metals.
Top 10 heaviest metals in terms of density
| Nomination | place | Metal | Density |
| Top 10 heaviest metals in terms of density | 1 | 16.64 g/cm3 | |
| 2 | 18.92 g/cm3 | ||
| 3 | 19.21 g/cm3 | ||
| 4 | 19.85 g/cm3 | ||
| 5 | 19.85 g/cm3 | ||
| 6 | 20.48 g/cm3 | ||
| 7 | 21.01 g/cm3 | ||
| 8 | 21.44 g/cm3 | ||
| 9 | 22.53 g/cm3 | ||
| 10 | 22.62 g/cm3 |
Density: 16.64 g/cm3
Melting/boiling point: 3017 0 С/5458 0 С
A very rare metal, but far from the heaviest in the world. Under natural conditions, it is a silvery-white solid with a slight bluish tinge (oxide film). It was discovered back in 1802, but it was not immediately possible to isolate it: until 1844 it was identified with another metal - niobium.
Tantalum is one of the most refractory in the world (in this indicator it surpasses even the heaviest metal on the planet) and does not react with air: its surface is oxidized only when the air temperature rises to 280 0 C, which is impossible under natural conditions.
One of the interesting features of tantalum is its paramagnetism (when it enters a magnetic field, the metal is magnetized in the direction of this field). In addition, tantalum impresses with its resistance to aggressive environments: its surface does not “succumb” even to 70% nitric acid. This unusual metal is used in the military industry (in the creation of ammunition), medicine (in the production of prostheses), in the nuclear industry (in the creation of nuclear reactors), etc.
An interesting fact: despite its high strength, tantalum is very ductile (it can be compared with gold), so pure metal is very convenient to work with.
Density: 18.92 g/cm3
Melting / boiling point: 1132 0 С / 3745 0 С
The main and not the best way characterizing this solid metal is the difference from other representatives of the rating - its radioactivity. Uranium, being in natural conditions, goes through a long stage of transformation, consisting of 14 stages and culminating in its transformation into lead. True, this process takes billions of years.
In its pure form, uranium has a large weight, a silvery-white color, high ductility (it is slightly softer than steel) and mild paramagnetic properties. Uranium is easily oxidized upon contact with air, and the powdered substance ignites spontaneously at a temperature of about 150 0 C.
The main and obvious use of uranium is in the nuclear industry. The active "consumer" of the metal is considered to be nuclear power (production of reactors, power plants, etc.). In recent years, a special emphasis has been placed on the development of methods for extracting uranium from sea water, where the concentration of solid matter is 3 µg/l).
Density: 19.21 g/cm3
Melting / boiling point: 3422 0 С / 3745 0 С
It got its rather original name (translated from Latin - “wolf foam”) because, when accompanied by tin ore, it interfered with the smelting of tin, turning it into slag foam. That is, he actually devoured a sheep like a wolf.
Tungsten is a lustrous, light gray solid. It is the most refractory metal on the planet: its melting point is close to the solar photosphere. It also has the highest proven boiling point on the planet. True, a “competitor” has recently appeared - seaborgium with a higher (supposed) melting point, but this is still not known for certain due to the short duration of the existence of the metal.
At one time, tungsten made a real sensation in the industry and today it is used as an indispensable basis for heat-resistant alloys. In addition, high strength provides this metal with wide application in various fields of human activity: it is used in aircraft engines, filaments, vacuum equipment, etc.
Density: 19.85 g/cm3
Melting / boiling point: 1064 0 С / 2856 0 С
One of the hardest metals on earth, but at the same time it is characterized by incredible ductility: it can be used to make a sheet with a thickness of only 0.1 microns (the so-called gold leaf). It is for this reason that the noble yellow metal has found its rightful place in jewelry. But at the same time, gold has a high density, which greatly simplifies the process of its extraction.
Gold has a very high electrical conductivity, which could make this metal indispensable in the process of creating microcircuits, but alas: the cost of the raw material is very high, and the prevalence is low.
Gold does not react with oxygen and most elements. The metal is not affected by acids and alkalis (an exception is aqua regia, which serves to test the purity of metals). Gold is one of the few metals used not only in industry, but also for the benefit of man (it is actively used in homeopathy and dentistry). In addition, the noble metal has found active use in banking: it is still the guarantor of the stability of any currency and a reliable investment tool.
Density: 19.85 g/cm3
The "younger brother" of uranium and the owner of high radioactivity. Under natural conditions, it is mined, but little and rarely, since it is simply impractical, but it is easy to obtain in the process of multi-stage conversion of uranium. Became the first chemically artificial substance produced on an industrial scale.
Enriched and natural uranium is used to produce plutonium. A few years ago, it was reported that in 2010 the world's last plutonium-producing reactor (in Russia) was shut down. But in the same year, a nuclear reactor was launched in Japan. True, he did not have to work for a long time due to the accident that occurred a couple of months after the launch: the reactor was stopped, and after the tragedy at Fukushima-1, they completely changed their minds about launching it. In 2016, a decision was made to decommission the reactor.
Due to the obvious military potential, plutonium began to be actively used in the production of nuclear weapons (the so-called weapons-grade plutonium), as a source of energy for spacecraft and as fuel for nuclear reactors.
Density: 20.48 g/cm3
Melting / boiling point: 640 0 С / 3235 0 С
Another radioactive "brainchild" of uranium obtained in the course of nuclear reactions. Considered to be the first transuranium element. A relatively soft substance is characterized by good malleability, slowly reacts with air, quickly oxidizing at its high temperature. On earth, this metal is found in trace amounts, so its extraction in natural conditions is simply meaningless.
Neptunium is dangerous for humans during radioactive decay: about 70-80% of its particles settle in the bone tissue, which leads to its complete defeat (the degree of damage depends on the valence of isotopes). Its main application is the production of plutonium.
Density: 21.01 g/cm3
Melting / boiling point: 3186 0 С / 5596 0 С
The discovery of a dense silvery metal was predicted by Mendeleev back in 1871, and its actual discovery took place only a century and a half later (in 1925). Rhenium was the last among the discovered elements with a stable isotope: all those discovered later did not have such.
Rhenium is one of the rarest elements on our planet. Its geochemical properties are similar to those of tungsten. Silver-white metal is considered one of the hardest and densest among all existing ones. In its pure form, rhenium is ductile already at room temperature, but it retains its strength even after repeated heating or cooling.
Rhenium is difficult to obtain, and its production is very material-intensive, so the metal is one of the most expensive: the price for 1 kg ranges from 1,000 to 10,000 dollars. "Extraction" of rhenium occurs mainly in the process of processing molybdenum and copper raw materials.
The scope of rhenium is due to a number of its properties (refractory, resistance to most reagents, etc.). At the same time, its high cost is taken into account: the use of metal is limited to those cases when it gives an advantage over the use of others. Basically, rhenium is used in the manufacture of rocket parts (especially jet and rocket engines).
Density: 21.44 g/cm3
Melting / boiling point: 1768 0 С / 3825 0 С
"Hardy" and hard platinum almost reached the top of our rankings, which is not surprising: it is one of the heaviest metals in the world. The precious substance is also considered one of the rarest on the planet. By the way, even the so-called native metal cannot be considered pure: it contains up to 20% iron, as well as rhodium, iridium, osmium, and less often copper.
Platinum is considered one of the most inert metals that does not react with acids and alkalis. Shiny silvery metal is actively used in jewelry and glass making, medicine (surgery), chemical industry, automotive industry, and due to its resistance to vacuum, also in the creation of spacecraft.
An interesting fact: the majority of the world's platinum reserves are "hidden" in the bowels of only 5 countries - Russia, China, Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United States.
Density: 22.53 g/cm3
In fact, iridium shares the first place with osmium - the difference in the density of these substances is hundredths of a gram. Nevertheless, this “heavyweight”, nevertheless, is a little easier. This is a very rare, valuable metal that absolutely does not interact with acids, water and even air. Iridium (like the leader in the ranking of the heaviest metals) is a refractory substance that is difficult to process.
Translated from Greek, it means "rainbow", which is not surprising, because iridium salts are distinguished by an incredible range of colors: from copper red to bright blue. White with a light silvery, as if a mirror hue, iridium is considered the most durable and one of the rarest on the planet: no more than 10 tons are mined per year, and most of the deposits are located at the place where meteorites fall.
It is used in high-precision mechanical engineering as an indicator of the tightness of welds. It is actively used by paleontologists and geologists as a temporary indicator of the discovered layer of a particular rock. Often one of the heaviest metals on the planet is also used to generate electricity. In recent years, iridium has received a rather unexpected and unusual application: for electrical stimulation of nerves and in the creation of prostheses for the human eye and ear apparatus.
Density: 22.62 g/cm3
Melting/boiling point: 2466 0 С/4428 0 С
The heaviest "representative" of Mendeleev's periodic table, and, accordingly, the heaviest metal in the world. The year 1803 was actually a turning point for this element, since during this period of time its discovery took place literally in racing conditions: two scientists discovered osmium in parallel - Tennant and de Fourcroix. But Tennant, nevertheless, achieved more clear and profound results, and in official documents submitted to the Royal Society of London, he indicated that the element found was conditionally divided into two metals - iridium and osmium.
The extraction of osmium requires considerable costs, since it is rare and difficult to influence. Hence the impressive cost - $ 15,000 per 1 gram of the substance. The density of osmium is only slightly higher than that of iridium, although the properties of both species are not yet fully understood. The heaviest metal in the world is "unfriendly" to high temperatures: it is very refractory.
Osmium belongs to the group of platinum elements and is conditionally noble. And, although when solidified, osmium forms beautiful silver-blue crystals, it is not suitable for creating jewelry, because it is absolutely non-plastic and difficult to forge. It has a specific smell - garlic-chlorine mixture.
Highly valued for its strength, the metal is often added to make knots that are subjected to frequent and intense friction. Such alloys become incredibly strong and resistant to any impact.
