Insert your image here:

INSERT>IMAGE

 

Iridium is not a liqiud nor a gas but a solid aigh'nt that a gas! It's the by-product of mining, and is good when binding.

 

Historical Backround

Smithson Tennat discovered this element in 1803 he also discovered Osmium which is the densest element. This element is a metal in the platinum family. This element is very brittle and hard to work with, but it is the most corrosion resistant metal. The element was named after the Latin word iris. The main purpose of this element is an additive to platinum. The element is found uncombined in nature with many metals of the platinum family. It is found as a run off from nickel mining. Up one once of Iridium costs up to $500.

Properties of Iridium

The atomic symbol is Ir, the atomic mass is 77. Iridium is part of the transition metals, and is in group nine, period six, block d. It appears uncombined in nature with a silver color. It can be used either in a sheet, powder, wire or sponge form. Its atomic weight is 192.217. Iridium has two valence electrons, and has an oxidation number +2. The melting and boiling points are 2,466 Celsius/ 4471 Fahrenheit and 4428 Celsius/ 4471 Farhenheit. It is one of the most corrosion resistant of all of the metals. One of the densest elements on the planet except for osmium which was also discovered by Smithson Tennant.

 

Iridium is not known to cause significant problems and is some what unreactive. But it should be kept out of children’s reach because it is extremely toxic. Other hazards are that when using Iridium powder you should be cautious because it could combust in the air. Their were also cases of people who were harmed when exposed to the radioactive form of Iridium, also known as radiation poisoning.
This element is found in the run off of nickel and copper mining and those mining techniques cause great harm to the environment. The mining also scars the land forever. The separation technique pollutes the earth when they use hydrochloric acids and chlorine to separate the Iridium from any other metal.

            Iridium is mainly used because it is the most corrosion resistant metal. Iridium is used as an additive to platinum to make it harder and denser, so it can be used for automotive spark plugs and aviation uses. It is also used to build crucibles which are containers that are resistant towards intense heat. Iridium is used in many forms for example by sheet, wire, sponge and powder.

 

The element is used for sparkplugs for automobiles and parts for airplanes. But some products just have the title Iridium for example the “iridium” company. That sells satellite phones and telecommunication satellites. It is a by-product of nickel mining and mainly alloyed with platinum. It is used in surgical utensils and pin-nib bearings in compasses. What’s great about this element is that it is a metal that is very resistant to corrosion.

 

Iridium is used in treating many cancers with radioactive therapy. One of these many cancers is prostate in which the Iridium isotopes are inserted into the body and kill all the cancerous cells. This cancer is the second most common caner that occurs inside a man. The therapy or Brachytherapy (High Dose Rate) Iridium is done in the very early stages of the cancer.
Table
Element Name Iridium
Founder Smithson Tennat
Electrons 77
Protons 77
Oxidation N. +2
Nuetrons 115
Catergory Transition Metal
Boiling point 4471 Fahrenheit
Atomic Weight 192.217
Forms Sponge/ powder/ wire/ sheet
Link to another classmate's site here.

 

Glossary
sparkplug Ingnitor for an automobile.
platinum A heavy, grayish-white, highly malleable and ductile metallic element, resistant to most chemicals, practically unoxidizable except in the presence of bases, and fusible only at extremely high temperatures: used for making chemical and scientific apparatus, as a catalyst in the oxidation of ammonia to nitric acid, and in jewelry. Symbol: Pt; atomic weight: 195.09; atomic number: 78; specific gravity: 21.5 at 20°C.
corrosion A substance, such as rust, formed by corroding.
hazard Something causing unavoidable danger, peril, risk, or difficulty.
resistant A person or thing that resists.
hydrochloric acid A colorless or faintly yellow, corrosive, fuming liquid, HCl, used chiefly in chemical and industrial processes.

My main purpose is to bind with my friend platinum

Bibliography
Hall, Prentice. California Physical Science Textbook. Boston. Massachusetts: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008.
Massey, Ann. "Brachytherapy (High Dose Rate)." Brachytherapy (High Dose Rate). Sept. & oct. 2006. University of Birmingham. 10 Feb. 2009 <http://www.arif.bham.ac.uk/b/brachytherapy-high-dose-iridium.shtml>.
"Uses of Iridium." Uses of Iridium. 2009. Precious Metal Investment. 10 Feb. 2009 <http://platinum.preciousmetalinvestment.com/iridium/uses-of-iridium/>.
Winter, Mike. "Iridium." Iridium the Essentials. 1993. The University of Sheffield. 10 Feb. 2009 <http://www.webelements.com/iridium/>.


Return to Top of Page