Osmium

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  osmium \os"mi*um\ ([o^]z"m[i^]*[u^]m), n. [Gr. 'osmh` a smell,
     odor, akin to 'o`zein to smell. So named in allusion to the
     strong chlorinelike odor of osmic tetroxide. See {Odor}.]
     (Chem.)
     A rare metallic element of the platinum group with atomic
     number 76. It is found native as an alloy in platinum ore,


     and in iridosmine. It is a hard, infusible, bluish or grayish
     white metal, and the heaviest substance known. Its tetroxide
     is used in histological experiments to stain tissues. Symbol
     {Os}. Atomic weight 190.2. Specific gravity 22.477.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  osmium
       n : a hard brittle blue-gray or blue-black metallic element that
           is one of the platinum metals; the heaviest metal known
           [syn: {Os}, {atomic number 76}]

From Elements database 20001107 [elements]:

  osmium
  Symbol: Os
  Atomic number: 76
  Atomic weight: 190.2
  Hard blue-white metallic transition element. Found with platinum and used
  in some alloys with platinum and iridium.