Iridium

By Clio Tveskov, 6th Grade, edited by Mason Weybright

Iridium is a chemical element on the periodic table. It is a transition metal of the platinum family, and is the second densest metal, next to osmium.

//Basic Information// Name: Iridium Atomic Number: 77 Symbol:Ir Phase: Solid Metallic Category: Transition Metal Standard Atomic Weight: 192.217 Melting Point: 2466 C Boiling Point: 4428 C

Iridium is a metallic grey-white with a slight yellow cast. It is extremely hard to manipulate into useful components due to it's density and stiffness. It is the most corrosion-resistant metal known. It was discovered alongside the other metals in the platinum family. It was found in the 17th century by Spanish conquerers in a region of modern-day Colombia. Iris is a Greek goddess named after Iridium. Iridium's first major use was in 1834. Iridium-Osmium alloys were used as tips for fountain pen nibs.