
Osmium element (Os) is in group 8 and period 6 of a periodic table. Osmium is in the d-block and it is classified as a transition element on the periodic table.
There is a lot more information related to osmium which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.
So let’s dive right into it!
Table of contents
- Osmium element (Information Table)
- Osmium element in Periodic table
- Facts about Osmium
- Properties of Osmium
- Uses of Osmium
Osmium Element (Information Table)
The important data related to osmium element is given in the table below.
Appearance of osmium | Silvery-blue metallic appearance |
Atomic number of osmium | 76 |
Symbol of osmium | Os |
Atomic mass of osmium | 190.23 u |
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in osmium | Protons: 76, Neutrons: 114, Electrons: 76 |
State of osmium (at STP) | Solid |
Group number of osmium in periodic table | 8 |
Period number of osmium in periodic table | 6 |
Block of osmium in periodic table | d-block |
Category of osmium | Transition metal |
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in osmium | 2, 8, 18, 32, 14, 2 |
Electron configuration of osmium | [Xe] 4f14 5d6 6s2 |
Orbital diagram of osmium | ![]() |
Electronegativity of osmium (on pauling scale) | 2.2 |
Atomic radius of osmium (van der Waals radius) | 216 picometers |
Density of osmium | 22.6 g/cm3 |
1st ionization energy of osmium | 8.7 eV |
Main isotope of osmium | 192Os |
Melting point of osmium | 3306 K or 3033 °C or 5491 °F |
Boiling point of osmium | 5285 K or 5012 °C or 9054 °F |
Crystal structure of osmium | Hexagonal Close Packing (HCP) |
Discovery of osmium | By Smithson Tennant in 1844 |
Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).
Osmium element in Periodic table
The Osmium element (Os) has the atomic number 76 and is located in group 8 and period 6. Osmium is a metal and it is classified as a transition element.
H | He | ||||||||||||||||
Li | Be | B | C | N | O | F | Ne | ||||||||||
Na | Mg | Al | Si | P | S | Cl | Ar | ||||||||||
K | Ca | Sc | Ti | V | Cr | Mn | Fe | Co | Ni | Cu | Zn | Ga | Ge | As | Se | Br | Kr |
Rb | Sr | Y | Zr | Nb | Mo | Tc | Ru | Rh | Pd | Ag | Cd | In | Sn | Sb | Te | I | Xe |
Cs | Ba | La* | Hf | Ta | W | Re | Os | Ir | Pt | Au | Hg | Tl | Pb | Bi | Po | At | Rn |
Fr | Ra | Ac** | Rf | Db | Sg | Bh | Hs | Mt | Ds | Rg | Cn | Nh | Fl | Mc | Lv | Ts | Og |
*Ce | Pr | Nd | Pm | Sm | Eu | Gd | Tb | Dy | Ho | Er | Tm | Yb | Lu | ||||
**Th | Pa | U | Np | Pu | Am | Cm | Bk | Cf | Es | Fm | Md | No | Lr |
Facts about osmium
Here are a few interesting facts about osmium element.
- Smithson Tennant discovered an osmium element in the year 1803.
- Osmium was given its name from the Greek word “osme”, meaning smell.
- Osmium is the most dense element on the periodic table, with a density of 22.6 g/cm3.
- The earth’s crust contains osmium in the concentration of 1.5 parts per billion by weight.
- Osmium is generally obtained as a byproduct while refining the nickel metal.
Properties of osmium
Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of osmium.
Physical properties of osmium
- Osmium has a silvery-blue metallic appearance.
- The density of osmium is 22.6 g/cm3 and its atomic mass is 190.23 amu.
- The melting point and boiling point of osmium is 3306 K and 5285 K respectively.
- The crystal structure of osmium is HCP.
- Osmium has many isotopes and the most abundant isotope is 192Os.
Chemical properties of osmium
- The powdered form of osmium metal reacts with the atmospheric oxygen and forms osmium tetroxide.
- Osmium tetroxide has an unpleasant smell and it is a toxic compound of osmium.
- The oxidation states of osmium range from -2 to +8.
- The electron configuration of osmium is [Xe] 4f14 5d6 6s2 and it has incomplete d-orbitals.
Uses of osmium
Here are some uses of the osmium element.
- Osmium has the hardest density as compared to other elements on the periodic table. So it is alloyed with other metals to increase their hardness.
- The pacemakers also contain 10% osmium and 90% platinum.
- Osmium is also used in making electrical contacts.
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