Iridium 💯

Because of its scarcity and high cost—priced at approximately as of mid-2023—iridium is only used where no other material can survive. The Green Energy Vanguard

Iridium is exceptionally hard and brittle, which means it is often alloyed with other metals like platinum to improve workability. 3. Industrial and High-Tech Applications

It is virtually immune to attack by any acid, including aqua regia, at standard temperatures. iridium

It remains solid until 2,446°C , making it a primary choice for high-temperature industrial processes.

Discovered in by English chemist Smithson Tennant , iridium was found in the insoluble residue of platinum ore. Tennant named it after the Greek goddess Iris , the personification of the rainbow, due to the strikingly diverse colors of its salts. Because of its scarcity and high cost—priced at

While it is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust—occurring at only —it is significantly more abundant in meteorites. This disparity led to the famous "Iridium Anomaly," a thin layer of iridium-rich clay found worldwide that provides evidence for the asteroid impact that ended the age of dinosaurs. 2. Physical and Chemical Properties

Iridium: The Universe’s Most Resilient Treasure Iridium is arguably the most extraordinary member of the periodic table. A transition metal sitting in the platinum group, it is celebrated as the . From its origins in the heart of supernovae to its critical role in the green hydrogen revolution, iridium’s story is one of scarcity, extreme durability, and modern technological necessity. 1. Origins and the "Rainbow" Element Industrial and High-Tech Applications It is virtually immune

It is the second densest element (barely edged out by osmium), with a density roughly twice that of lead.