Table of Contents
What is Iridium? ; Iridium Properties ;
Uses of Iridium
Iridium is a metal that is silver in color and is the most corrosion resistant metal known. It is a member of the platinum group of metals. It has a melting point of 2446 degrees Celsius and a boiling point of 4563 degrees Celsius. It is a very dense metal, with a density of 22.4 grams per cubic centimeter. It is used in jewelry, because of its corrosion resistance and its silver color. It is also used in dental work, because it is non-toxic.
Discovery
of the element
In 1807, English chemist and physicist Humphry Davy discovered the element sodium while experimenting with electrolysis. He used an electrolytic cell to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. Sodium was one of the products of this reaction. Davy named the element after the Latin word for soda, natrium.
Natural Occurrence
A naturally occurring mineral is one that is found in nature. Minerals can be found in rocks, soils, and water. They can also be found in the air in the form of dust.
Physical Properties of Iridium
Iridium is a lustrous, silvery-white metal. It is the most corrosion-resistant metal known, and is therefore used in environments where other metals would corrode. It has a very high melting point (more than 2400 degrees Celsius) and a very low vapor pressure, making it an ideal material for high- temperature and vacuum applications.
Chemical Properties of Iridium
Iridium is a very hard, brittle, silvery-white metal. It has a density of 22.6 grams per cubic centimeter, which is higher than that of most other metals. It is a poor conductor of heat and electricity.
Isotopes
The number of protons and neutrons in an atom’s nucleus determines which element it is. For example, an atom with six protons in its nucleus is carbon, and an atom with seven protons is nitrogen.
However, different atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons. These different atoms of the same element are called isotopes.
The most common isotope of carbon is carbon-12. It has six protons and six neutrons in its nucleus. However, there is also a carbon-13 isotope. It has six protons and seven neutrons in its nucleus.
Isotopes have the same chemical properties, but different physical properties. For example, carbon-12 is stable, while carbon-13 is unstable.
