By Elizabeth Cooper

1
Iridium

• By Elizabeth Cooper

2
The Basics

• Iridium has a melting point of 2410C, boiling
  point of 4130C, and valence of 3 or 4.
• It has 77 protons, 115 neutrons, 77 electrons,
  and 6 orbitals.

3
Appearance

• A member of the Platinum family, Iridium is
  white, but with a slight yellowish cast.
• The metal is very hard and brittle and is the
  most corrosion resistant metal known. Iridium is
  not attacked by acids, but is attacked by molten
  salts, including NaCl and NaCN.
• Either Iridium or Osmium is the densest known
  element.

4
Uses

• The metal is used for hardening Platinum.
• It is used in crucibles and other applications
  requiring high temperatures.
• Iridium is combined with Osmium to form an alloy
  used in compass bearings and for tipping pens.
• Iridium is also used for electrical contacts and
  in the jewelry industry.

5
Interesting Facts

• The word Iridium comes from the Latin iris
  (rainbow), because the salts of Iridium are
  highly colored.
• Discovered by Smithson Tennant, Antoine Fourcroy,
  Louis Vanquelin, and Hippolyte Collet-Descotils
  in 1803, France.
• The industrial extraction of iridium is complex
  as the metal occurs in ores mixed with other
  metals such as, Rhodium, Palladium, Silver,
  Platinum, and Gold.

6
A Poem About Iridium

• One of the least corrosive out there,
• Can get heated up without a care,
• Is also very dense,
• With excellent defense,
• Its salts are really colorful,
• And also very beautiful,
• Its very hard and brittle,
• It wont get attacked by acids,
• Not even a little.
• Its made by other metals,
• And breaks of like petals,
• Its up there with Osmium,
• The element Iridium.

7
Resources (please click and wait for the
credits)

• http//chemistry.about.com/library/blper5.htm
• http//www.chemicalelements.com/index.html
• http//chemistry.allinfoabout.com/periodic/periodi
  ctable.html
• http//www.webelements.com/webelements/scholar/ele
  ments/periodic-table/uses.html
• http//www.chemicool.com/
• http//www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/Elements
  /077/index.html