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Which Is the Densest Element?
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Quick Answer
Osmium is the densest naturally occurring element, at about 22.59 grams per cubic centimetre.
The Full Story
Osmium is a hard, bluish-white metal in the platinum group. At about 22.59 grams per cubic centimetre, it is roughly twice as dense as lead and just ahead of iridium. It was discovered in 1803 by English chemist Smithson Tennant, who identified iridium at the same time. Its name comes from the Greek osme, meaning 'smell', because osmium tetroxide has a pungent odour and is highly toxic. Osmium alloys are used in fountain pen tips, electrical contacts and instrument pivots.
Key Facts
1.A cube of osmium 30 centimetres on each side would weigh about 610 kilograms.
2.Osmium is one of the rarest elements in Earth's crust.
3.The densities of osmium and iridium are so close that their order was debated for years.
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Osmium — the heaviest stuff on the periodic table you can hold."