osmium

noun

os·mi·um ˈäz-mē-əm How to pronounce osmium (audio)

: a blue-gray or blue-black hard brittle very heavy polyvalent metallic element with a high melting point that is used especially as a catalyst and in hard alloys see Chemical Elements Table

Word History

Etymology

Greek osmḗ "smell, odor" + -ium; osmḗ going back to *od-s-mā, noun derivative from the base of ózein "to smell, give off an odor" — more at odor

Note: The word osmium was introduced by the English chemist Smithson Tennant (1761-1815) in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 1804, Part II, p. 416: "When the alkaline solution [obtained by dissolving impure platinum] is first formed, by adding water to the dry alkaline mass in the crucible, a pungent and peculiar smell is immediately perceived. This smell, as I afterwards discovered, arises from the extrication of a very volatile metallic oxide; and, as this smell is one of its most distinguishing characters, I should on that account incline to call the metal Osmium." In the same report Tennant discussed and named the element iridium (see iridium).

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined above

单词	osmium
释义	osmium noun os·mi·um ˈäz-mē-əm : a blue-gray or blue-black hard brittle very heavy polyvalent metallic element with a high melting point that is used especially as a catalyst and in hard alloys see Chemical Elements Table Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web Because of its durability, osmium is used in electronics, as well, to make record player needles and fountain pens. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 25 Apr. 2022 While brilliant, Kolnai’s writing has the density of osmium. New York Times, 27 Dec. 2021 Word History Etymology Greek osmḗ "smell, odor" + -ium; osmḗ going back to od-s-mā, noun derivative from the base of ózein* "to smell, give off an odor" — more at odor Note: The word osmium was introduced by the English chemist Smithson Tennant (1761-1815) in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 1804, Part II, p. 416: "When the alkaline solution [obtained by dissolving impure platinum] is first formed, by adding water to the dry alkaline mass in the crucible, a pungent and peculiar smell is immediately perceived. This smell, as I afterwards discovered, arises from the extrication of a very volatile metallic oxide; and, as this smell is one of its most distinguishing characters, I should on that account incline to call the metal Osmium." In the same report Tennant discussed and named the element iridium (see iridium). First Known Use 1804, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing osmium osmium tetroxide osmium tetroxide Medical Definition osmium noun os·mi·um ˈäz-mē-əm : a hard brittle blue-gray or blue-black polyvalent metallic element of the platinum group with a high melting point that is the heaviest metal known and that is used especially as a catalyst and in hard alloys —symbol Os see Chemical Elements Table
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osmium

noun

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing osmium

Medical Definition

noun