Iridium, a type of platinum group metal, has an important place not only in the field of science, but also in industry and jewelry. Although platinum group metals are mostly silvery-white in color, and iridium is no exception, iridium's unique properties make it stand out from the crowd and are key to reliable identification.
The first characteristic of iridium is its high density, which is the highest density of platinum group metals and the second densest of known elements, after beryllium. This property means that iridium-containing materials are significantly heavier than other platinum group metals in the same volume. In addition, iridium is extremely stable at room temperature and highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation, especially in harsh environments.
In terms of chemical properties, iridium has a unique reactivity. It is inactive against most acids and is even resistant to aqua regia, which is a key clue to the identification of iridium. In the laboratory, iridium is tested for chemical reactivity and can effectively distinguish iridium from other metals.
Further, the decisive means of identifying the iridium content is the professional instrumental test. Spectroscopic analysis, such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) analysis, can accurately determine the presence and proportion of iridium in a sample. XRF analysis can accurately analyze the iridium content by measuring the absorption and emission characteristics of a sample of X-rays, which is especially critical for industrial iridium.
In addition to the physical and chemical properties, it is also important to pay attention to the common applications and material forms of iridium. Iridium is commonly used to make strong alloys at high temperatures, as well as high-performance electrical contacts in electronic devices. These areas of application are often the main ones for iridium. With an understanding of these specific applications, we can look for iridium-containing materials in a more targeted manner.