This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of osmium and gold, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Osmium vs Gold.
Osmium and Gold – About Elements
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Osmium and Gold – Applications
Osmium
Due to its rarity and hence expense, osmium has only a few industrial uses. It is used to produce very hard alloys for fountain pen tips, instrument pivots, needles and electrical contacts. It is also used in the chemical industry as a catalyst. Finely divided osmium metal can be used as a catalyst e.g. in the process of forming ammonia by combining hydrogen and nitrogen.
Gold
Gold is used extensively in jewellery, either in its pure form or as an alloy. About 75% of all gold produced is used in the jewelry industry. Pure gold is too soft to stand up to the stresses applied to many jewelry items. Craftsmen learned that alloying gold with other metals such as copper, silver, and platinum would increase its durability. The term ‘carat’ indicates the amount of gold present in an alloy. 24-carat is pure gold, but it is very soft. 18- and 9-carat gold alloys are commonly used because they are more durable. Gold’s high malleability, ductility, resistance to corrosion and most other chemical reactions, and conductivity of electricity have led to its continued use in corrosion resistant electrical connectors in all types of computerized devices (its chief industrial use). Gold is also used in infrared shielding, colored-glass production, gold leafing, and tooth restoration. Only 10% of the world consumption of new gold produced goes to industry, but by far the most important industrial use for new gold is in fabrication of corrosion-free electrical connectors in computers and other electrical devices.
Osmium and Gold – Comparison in Table
Element | Osmium | Gold |
Density | 22.61 g/cm3 | 19.3 g/cm3 |
Ultimate Tensile Strength | 1000 MPa | 220 MPa |
Yield Strength | N/A | 205 MPa |
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity | N/A | 79 GPa |
Mohs Scale | 7 | 2.75 |
Brinell Hardness | 3900 MPa | 190 MPa |
Vickers Hardness | 4140 MPa | 215 MPa |
Melting Point | 3045 °C | 1064 °C |
Boiling Point | 5030 °C | 2970 °C |
Thermal Conductivity | 88 W/mK | 320 W/mK |
Thermal Expansion Coefficient | 5.1 µm/mK | 14.2 µm/mK |
Specific Heat | 0.13 J/g K | 0.128 J/g K |
Heat of Fusion | 31.8 kJ/mol | 12.55 kJ/mol |
Heat of Vaporization | 746 kJ/mol | 334.4 kJ/mol |