Iridium

:Alternate meaning: Iridium (satellite)

Notable characteristics

A platinum family metal, iridium is white, resembling platinum, but with a slight yellowish cast. Due to its extreme hardness and brittle properties, iridium is difficult to machine, form, or work. Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant metal known. Iridium cannot be attacked by any acids or by aqua regia, but it can be attacked by molten salts, such as NaCl and NaCN.

Related Topics:
Platinum family - Metal - Platinum - Corrosion - Acid - Aqua regia - Salt - NaCl - NaCN

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The measured density of this element is only slightly lower than that of osmium, which is therefore often listed as the heaviest element known. However, calculations of density from the space lattice may produce more reliable data for these elements than actual measurements and give a density of 22650 kg/m³ for iridium versus 22610 kg/m³ for osmium. Definitive selection between the two is therefore not possible at this time.

Related Topics:
Density - Osmium - Space lattice - Kg/m³

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