iridium

Definition

A dense, silvery-white transition metal (element 77) that is one of the rarest elements on Earth and extremely resistant to corrosion and heat. It is often used in alloys, spark plugs, and scientific instruments due to its exceptional durability.

Example Usage

The spacecraft's heat shield was reinforced with iridium plating to withstand re-entry temperatures.

Origin

Named in 1803 by Smithson Tennant from Latin 'iris' (rainbow), referencing the colorful appearance of its oxide compounds in solution.

Fun Fact

Iridium is so rare that most of Earth's iridium is believed to have sunk into the core during planetary formation; the iridium layer in the K-Pg boundary provided key evidence for the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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