# What is osmium? The rarest precious metal in the world > What is osmium? The densest of all elements (22.59 g/cm³) and the rarest stable metal on Earth — properties, uses and why it is so sought-after. Source page: https://www.osmium-group.com/en/what-is-osmium/ Language: EN Last content change: 2026-09-10 Also in DE: https://www.osmium-group.com/was-ist-osmium/index.md Publisher: Osmium Group, independent information portal, not operated by the Osmium-Institut Osmium is a chemical element with the symbol **Os** and atomic number **76**. It is the **densest of all elements** (22.59 g/cm³) and the rarest stable metal on Earth. Osmium belongs to the platinum metals and is traded in crystalline, forgery-proof form. [Current price](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/osmium-price/) [Buy osmium](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/buy-osmium/) ## Osmium properties at a glance | Chemical symbol | Os | | --- | --- | | Atomic number | 76 | | Density | 22.59 g/cm³ — densest of all elements | | Melting point | approx. 3,033 °C | | Boiling point | approx. 5,012 °C | | Element group | Platinum metals (platinum group) | | Colour | bluish-silver shimmer | | Discovery | 1803 by Smithson Tennant | ## The most important properties of osmium **Highest density:** at 22.59 g/cm³ osmium is the densest known element — denser than gold (19.3), lead (11.3) or platinum (21.4). A small piece weighs surprisingly much. **Bluish-silver shimmer:** in crystalline form osmium shows a characteristic blue-silver shine that sets it apart from every other precious metal. **Safe in crystalline form:** while fine osmium powder can form toxic osmium tetroxide when oxidising, the **crystalline investment osmium is stable and safe** to handle — and that is the form being traded. **Extremely hard & durable:** osmium is very hard and corrosion-resistant — properties once used for alloys such as fountain-pen tips. ## Rare, safe, value-stable ### Rarest stable metal Osmium occurs only in tiny amounts as a companion of platinum — rarer than gold or platinum. ### Densest element 22.59 g/cm³ — no other element on Earth is denser. High value in the smallest of spaces. [Ranking of the densest metals →](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/heaviest-metal/) ### Forgery-proof The unique crystal surface acts as a physical fingerprint (OIC). ### Sought-after store of value Tradable in crystalline form since 2017 — with a marked price development. ## What is osmium used for? Historically osmium was used mainly in hard alloys — for pen nibs, bearings and instrument needles. Today a different role dominates: **osmium as a precious metal and store of value**, as well as exclusive [osmium jewelry](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/osmium-jewelry/). Thanks to its crystalline, certified form, osmium has become forgery-proof — the basis for it being traded today as an [investment](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/osmium-investment/) at a set price. From knowledge to entry: [See certified osmium →](https://www.osmium-group.com/go/) (Ad) ## Osmium in High-Tech & Quantum Computing Beyond jewelry and investment, osmium is increasingly viewed as a material for **high technology**. In an especially high-purity, fine-granular powder form – as **HighTech-Ready Osmium (HTRO)** with purity grades from 99.99% to 99.99999% (4N–7N) – the metal is being researched for possible future applications: second-generation **quantum computing**, **medical technology**, **high-temperature superconductivity** and semiconductor technology. Crystalline osmium itself is used primarily as an investment and for jewelry; for industrial use it first has to be converted into the high-purity HTRO powder form. [More on osmium in high-tech →](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/osmium-high-tech/) ## What is osmium — frequently asked **What is osmium in simple terms?** Osmium (symbol Os, atomic number 76) is the densest of all elements and the rarest stable metal on Earth. It belongs to the platinum metals and is traded in crystalline, forgery-proof form. **How dense is osmium?** 22.59 g/cm³ — making osmium the densest of all known elements, denser than gold, platinum or lead. **Is osmium toxic?** Crystalline, metallic osmium is stable and safe. Toxic is mainly osmium tetroxide, which can form from fine powder — not the crystalline investment form. **Why is osmium so rare?** It occurs only in tiny amounts as a companion of platinum; extraction and crystalline processing are extremely complex. ## Related topics ### [The Heaviest Metal in the World](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/heaviest-metal/) The ranking of the densest metals, the narrow lead over iridium and why “heavy” and “dense” are not the same thing. [See the ranking →](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/heaviest-metal/) ### [Osmium Cube](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/osmium-cube/) The famous cube — the densest metal on Earth you can literally feel. [Discover the cube →](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/osmium-cube/) ### [Osmium in High-Tech](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/osmium-high-tech/) HighTech-Ready Osmium (HTRO): high-purity osmium for quantum computing, medical tech & superconductivity — still research. [High-Tech & HTRO →](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/osmium-high-tech/) ## Ready to explore the rarest precious metal? Check the current price or buy certified osmium directly. [See the osmium price](https://www.osmium-group.com/en/osmium-price/) [Buy osmium →](https://www.osmium-group.com/go/) (Ad) --- This page as HTML: https://www.osmium-group.com/en/what-is-osmium/ Site overview for agents: https://www.osmium-group.com/en/llms.txt Machine-readable price data: https://www.osmium-group.com/data/price.json (current), https://www.osmium-group.com/data/history.json (series). Prices are net EUR per gram of crystalline osmium, source osmium-preis.com, updated daily.