Definition of iridium in English:
iridium
noun ʌɪˈrɪdɪəmɪˈrɪdɪəmɪˈrɪdiəm
mass nounThe chemical element of atomic number 77, a hard, dense silvery-white metal.
Iridium is a member of the transition series and is one of the densest metals. Iridium–platinum alloys are hard and corrosion-resistant and are used in jewellery and for electrical contacts
Example sentencesExamples
- They found the rare element iridium in the thin clay layer that caps the rocks of the Cretaceous era.
- The new electrochemical system is based on a magnesium anode, a seawater/catholyte electrolyte and an electrocatalyst of palladium and iridium catalyzed on carbon paper.
- Previously, it was thought that any asteroid or comet collision would leave strong evidence of the element iridium, the signal found in the sedimentary layer from the time of the dinosaur extinction.
- The earth's crust is depleted in iridium and other platinum group elements, while meteorites are enriched in them.
- Jewellery made of platinum, iridium and palladium gleamed majestically, now and then emitting flashes of brilliant light from the studded diamonds.
Origin
Early 19th century: modern Latin, from Latin iris, irid- 'rainbow' (so named because it forms compounds of various colours).
Rhymes
cryptosporidium, cymbidium, idiom, rubidium