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Research draft

osmium

vr.tr.osmium · PHY.MAT

Let an agent explain osmium as an element, relay its properties, uses and hazards from reference sources, and separate the metal from osmium tetroxide and other platinum group metals.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent explain osmium as an element, relay its properties, uses and hazards from reference sources, and separate the metal from osmium tetroxide and other platinum group metals.

A hard, brittle, bluish-white metal, chemical element 76, of the platinum group and the densest naturally occurring element; obtained as a by-product of nickel and platinum refining, it is used in hard alloys for pen nibs, electrical contacts and instrument pivots, and as osmium tetroxide in microscopy and organic synthesis, a compound that is highly toxic.

What it is for: Hard alloys and, as the tetroxide, staining and synthesis.

It can be explain properties and isotopes; explain uses and production; relay hazards, especially of osmium tetroxide; distinguish from other platinum group metals.

Distinguishing features

Densest natural element

Platinum group metal

Forms volatile toxic tetroxide

Very rare

What it looks like

Bluish-white lustrous, very dense and hard metal, usually seen as powder or small pieces.

Physical character

atomic number: 76

density: about 22.6 g per cubic centimetre - densest natural element

melting point: about 3033 degrees C

How it is recognised

Element 76, platinum group

Densest natural element

Iridium is similarly dense; osmium tetroxide is a volatile toxic compound

Related models

is a kind of - the group

platinum group metal

is related to - the neighbouring element

iridium

forms - the notable compound

osmium tetroxide

is obtained from - as a by-product

platinum refining

In practice

Families and kinds

osmium metal and alloys

osmium tetroxide

osmium isotopes

osmiridium natural alloy

Identifiers

chemical symbol Os

CAS number 7440-04-2

Standards and regulation

GHS classification and labelling for osmium tetroxide

Laboratory safety rules for volatile toxic compounds

Occupational exposure limits

Failure modes and hazards

Osmium tetroxide toxicity to eyes and lungs

Powder oxidising to tetroxide in air

Confusion with iridium in density claims

Also called

osmium-162osmium-163osmium-164osmium-165osmium-166osmium-167osmium-168osmium-169osmium-170osmium-171osmium-172osmium-173osmium-174osmium-175osmium-176osmium-177osmium-178osmium-179osmium-180osmium-181osmium-181m1osmium-181m2osmium-182osmium-183osmium-183mosmium-184osmium-185osmium-185m1osmium-185m2osmium-186osmium-187osmium-188osmium-189osmium-189mosmium-190osmium-190mosmium-191osmium-191mosmium-192osmium-192m

+12

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Also registered as vr.tr.osmium

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Element What osmium is.

Chemistry.

Properties

Properties.

Properties

Properties.

  1. What are the properties and isotopes of osmium, and why is it the densest element? definition
  2. Is the question about the metal or about osmium tetroxide? boundary

Occurrence

Occurrence and production.

Occurrence

Occurrence.

  1. Where does osmium occur, and how is it produced? provenance
  2. Which entry fits platinum group metals? action
Use Applications.

Uses.

Alloys

Alloys.

Alloys

Alloys.

  1. How is osmium used in hard alloys and contacts? provenance
  2. Which entry fits a specific alloy? action

Tetroxide

Osmium tetroxide uses.

Tetroxide

Tetroxide.

  1. How is osmium tetroxide used in microscopy and synthesis, in general terms? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance
Safety Hazards.

Safety.

Hazards

Toxicity.

Hazards

Hazards.

  1. What hazards does osmium tetroxide pose, and what handling rules apply? provenance
  2. Is the question about a specific laboratory, which needs its safety officer? boundary

Exposure

Exposure response.

Exposure

Exposure.

  1. What do authorities advise after exposure? provenance
  2. Is the user reporting an exposure, which needs emergency services? boundary
Context History and research.

Context.

History

Discovery.

History

History.

  1. How was osmium discovered and named? provenance
  2. Which entry fits the discoverer? action

Research

Research.

Research

Research.

  1. What research involves osmium, such as isotope geochemistry? provenance
  2. Which entry fits isotope geochemistry? action

What the second pass must settle

  • Should osmium tetroxide be a separate entry?
  • How should safety data be linked?
  • The registry entry has merged isotope aliases; should they be split off?