Definition

A very heavy, bluish-white metal that is hard and brittle. It is used in various applications, including making pen tips and as a hardener for platinum.

Example

Osmium is one of the densest elements known and is often used in high-quality fountain pen nibs.

Conversation

Did you know that osmium is one of the heaviest elements on the periodic table?

Really? I had no idea it was that dense!

Yeah, it's used in some pretty interesting applications, like pen tips and phonograph needles.

That's fascinating! I wonder how they manage to work with such a heavy metal.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Osmium** → The word 'osmium' comes from the Greek 'osme' (ὀσμή), meaning 'smell' or 'odor', combined with the suffix '-ium', which is commonly used in chemistry to denote metallic elements. The name reflects the element's strong and distinctive odor when in certain compounds.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for 'smell' ('osme') to remember that osmium is named for its strong odor.

Visually Confused Words