osmium (osmium)

[NL., ica, California, Australia, Ru ia), in form iridosmium, an alloy of the metals osmium and iridium. The specific gravity of the artificially obtained metal has been found to be 22.477; hence it is the heaviest of those bodies. It has never been fused. Its crystalline form is either that of the cube or that of a very obtuse rhombohedron. The crystals are of a bluish-white color, with a violet luster, and are harder than gla . Osmium is not used in the arts, except in the form of iridosmium, of which material the tips of gold pens are made.