Scientists say that this metal, in its pure form, is not found even in nature.
There are many metals on Earth that can be more expensive than gold and platinum. The world’s precious natural resources can be very expensive, but what about iridium, writes IFLScience.
As you know, iridium is a chemical element with atomic number 77, it is classified as a transition material. Iridium remains solid at room temperature. It is believed that the name “iridium” comes from the Greek word “iris” – rainbow. Like gold, iridium is quite inert, has a high density and melting point. Iridium is also the most corrosion-resistant element in the periodic table.
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The greatest number of amazing properties of iridium were discovered by the English chemist Smithson Tennant. Iridium was discovered around 1803 in platinum ores. The metal was discovered during the dissolution of platinum in the so-called “regia vodka” – a mixture of very strong acids.
Due to iridium’s high density, its pure form is almost never used. Moreover, the pure form of this metal may not even exist in nature. The fact is that most iridium-containing ores contain only a small percentage of iridium and can only be found in South Africa, Alaska, Brazil, and Myanmar.
Often, iridium is combined with platinum to create alloys that end up containing 5-10% iridium. Such alloys are used to make jewelry, pen nibs, surgical metals, and contacts in electrical equipment.
At the moment, the cost of iridium is $4,500 per ounce (28.35 g), while at the same time, the price for the same amount of gold fluctuates around $2,082.
Let us remind you that one of the rarest precious metals is rhodium, which at the same time is the most expensive – the price per ounce is approximately 10 thousand dollars.
2023-12-28 07:10:25
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