Osmium, the densest naturally occurring element on Earth, has captivated scientists and engineers since its discovery over two centuries ago. This remarkable metal, named for its distinctive odor when oxidized, represents one of nature’s most extreme materials – combining exceptional density, hardness, and chemical resistance in ways that continue to challenge our understanding of matter. From its initial isolation as an unwanted residue in platinum processing to its modern applications in specialized alloys and cutting-edge research, osmium’s journey through history reflects humanity’s evolving mastery of the elements. Today, as the rarest stable element in Earth’s crust, osmium occupies a unique position at the intersection of scientific curiosity, technological innovation, and investment speculation, making its story one of the most fascinating chapters in the periodic table’s ongoing narrative.

Read about the six platinum group metals – Iridium, Osmium, Palladium, Platinum, Rhodium, and Ruthenium – as a group (PGMs) here. Find out about the other critical raw materials (CRMs) here. The complete history of platinum can be found here. Find the complete history of all platinum group metals here.

A History Of Osmium

The history of osmium spans over two centuries of scientific discovery, technological innovation, and evolving applications. From its initial discovery in platinum ore residues to its modern use in high-technology applications and luxury goods, osmium has consistently challenged scientists with its extreme properties while offering unique solutions to specialized problems. This chronology traces the metal’s journey from laboratory curiosity to its current status as the rarest and densest of the precious metals.

Chronology

• 1803-1804: Smithson Tennant discovered osmium in London, England, while analyzing the insoluble residue left when crude platinum was dissolved by aqua regia; Tennant isolated two new elements from the black platinum residue, calling them osmium and iridium; Tennant obtained a yellow solution (probably of cis–[Os(OH)2O4]2−) by reactions with sodium hydroxide at red heat; Tennant announced osmium’s isolation and named it for the unpleasant odour of some of its compounds (Greek osme, odour); Discovery of osmium was documented in a letter to the Royal Society on June 21, 1804 [1, 2, 3, 4]
• 1865: The first publication reporting the use of osmium tetroxide (OsO4) for tissue staining appeared [5]
• 1898-1902: Austrian chemist Auer von Welsbach developed the Oslamp with a filament made of osmium in 1898; Auer von Welsbach introduced the osmium-filament Oslamp commercially in 1902 [6]
• 1906: The light bulb manufacturer Osram was founded, deriving its name from the elements osmium and Wolfram (German for tungsten); Fritz Haber achieved a 6% ammonia concentration using an osmium catalyst, marking a turning point in ammonia synthesis using osmium [6, 7]
• 1908: Haber patented a process using osmium and uranium catalysts for ammonia synthesis at 175 atmospheres and 550°C [8]
• 1909: BASF researcher Alwin Mittasch discovered the iron-based catalyst that replaced osmium in the Haber-Bosch process; Carl Bosch rejected osmium as a catalyst for industrial ammonia production due to osmium’s rarity [9, 10]
• 1952: Palade introduced osmium tetroxide as a fixative for electron microscopy [5]
• 1980: Luis Alvarez and colleagues discovered osmium (along with iridium) present in elevated levels at the K-T boundary [11]
• 1990s: Measurements using X-ray crystallography confirmed osmium as the densest element at 22.59 g/cm³ [4]
• 1990-2010: The nominal price of osmium remained almost constant while inflation reduced its real value from ~US$950 to ~US$600 per troy ounce [4]
• 2001: Karl Barry Sharpless was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work including osmium-catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation [4]
• 2010: Osmium began gaining attention as an investment metal with the development of crystallization processes and establishment of the German Osmium Institute [12]
• 2013-2014: Swiss scientists successfully crystallized raw osmium, making osmium safe for human handling in 2013; The German Osmium-Institut zur Inverkehrbringung und Zertifizierung von Osmium GmbH began preparing crystallized osmium for the market in 2014; A process was perfected in Switzerland to purify osmium and change its structure to create non-toxic crystalline osmium form [13, 14, 15]
• 2015: The global market for crystalline osmium jewelry began expanding as osmium’s unique blue-white sparkle attracted luxury designers, with osmium being sold in both jewelry and investment markets [16]
• 2016: Osmium fingerprinting technology was developed through nanometer-range scanning of osmium’s crystal structure, providing identification accuracy 10,000 times higher than human fingerprints for authenticating crystalline osmium products [17]
• 2017: Annual production of osmium from platinum mining byproducts was reported at approximately 1,200 kg globally, with crystalline osmium price increasing from €500 to over €1,200 per gram [18]
• 2018: Research into osmium-based catalysts for various applications intensified at several European universities, with studies on osmium complexes for hydrogenation reactions published [19]
• 2019: Annual osmium production fell below 1000 kg according to the Osmium World Council [20, 21]
• 2020: Osmium was recognized as the most expensive non-synthetic element by both mass and volume [22]
• 2021: The price of crystalline osmium reached new highs at approximately €1,500 per gram as demand from technology and jewelry sectors exceeded available supply [23]
• 2022: Advanced osmium alloys were included in research for next-generation aerospace applications requiring extreme density and durability, with osmium compounds being studied for potential medical applications [24]
• 2023: The Osmium World Council estimated mineable osmium reserves at approximately 22 tons (one cubic meter) [20]
• 2024: Major watchmakers including Hublot, Ulysse Nardin, Czapek, and OSLUX began incorporating crystalline osmium elements into ultra-luxury timepieces, further increasing demand for processed osmium [25]
• 2025: Osmium recycling initiatives launched globally as the metal’s scarcity drives development of recovery technologies from industrial waste, with recycling market estimated at $50 million and growing at 8-15% CAGR [26]

Final Thoughts

Osmium’s story exemplifies how an element once dismissed as a troublesome impurity can evolve into a material of exceptional value and utility. From Smithson Tennant’s initial characterization of its pungent smell to modern applications requiring its unparalleled density and hardness, osmium has consistently defied easy categorization. Its brief starring role in early electric lighting and catalysis gave way to more specialized uses that leverage its unique properties – from fountain pen nibs that last lifetimes to electron microscopy stains that reveal cellular structures in unprecedented detail.

As we face new challenges in materials science and sustainable technology, osmium’s extreme characteristics may yet prove crucial in applications we cannot currently imagine. With reserves measured in mere tons rather than the thousands of tons available for other precious metals, osmium stands as both a testament to nature’s capacity for creating the extraordinary and a reminder of the finite resources that drive human innovation.

Thanks for reading!

References

[1] Smithson Tennant – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smithson_Tennant

[2] Smithson Tennant | British chemist | Britannica – https://www.britannica.com/biography/Smithson-Tennant

[3] Smithson Tennant – Linda Hall Library – https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/smithson-tennant/

[4] Osmium – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmium

[5] Osmium Tetroxide – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/osmium-tetroxide

[6] Osmium – https://ptable.com/wiki/en/A/Osmium

[7] Catalytic Advancements since Haber Bosch – AmmoniaKnowHow – https://ammoniaknowhow.com/catalytic-advancements-since-haber-bosch/

[8] Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch – Feed the World – Features – The Chemical Engineer – https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/features/cewctw-fritz-haber-and-carl-bosch-feed-the-world/

[9] Haber process – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haber_process

[10] Haber-Bosch Process – https://sciencenotes.org/haber-bosch-process/

[11] Osmium and Iridium: Explaining the Extinction of Dinosaurs – https://www.wondriumdaily.com/osmium-and-iridium-explaining-the-extinction-of-dinosaurs/

[12] Osmium as an Investment – Quest Metals – https://www.questmetals.com/blog/osmium-as-an-investment

[13] Osmium, the sparkling “Element of the Sun” – Natania Travel – https://nataniatravel.com/en/osmium-the-sparkling-element-of-the-sun/

[14] Osmium – The Sunshine Element – https://www.elevatedmagazines.com/single-post/osmium-the-sunshine-element

[15] Crystalline Osmium: The Rarest Precious Metal on Earth – https://www.katerinaperez.com/articles/crystalline-osmium-rarest-precious-metal-intriguing-jewellers-watchmakers

[16] Osmium – precious metal – https://pureosmium.com/index-en.html

[17] FAQ | Osmium-Institute Germany – https://www.buy-osmium.com/en/faq/

[18] Osmium Market – MMTA – https://mmta.co.uk/metals/os/

[19] Recent Advances in Osmium-Catalyzed Hydrogenation and Dehydrogenation Reactions | Accounts of Chemical Research – https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ar5003818

[20] Osmium-Violin: OSmium FaCTS – https://www.osmium-violin.com/en/osmium-kaufen/

[21] en | Osmium-Institute Germany – https://www.osmium.info/en

[22] Prices of chemical elements – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prices_of_chemical_elements

[23] Current osmium price 2025 ➜ in EUR, USD & CHF – https://metametals.com/osmium-price

[24] Interesting Facts About Osmium: A Critical Raw Material – Brian D. Colwell – https://briandcolwell.com/interesting-facts-about-osmium-a-critical-raw-material/

[25] Crystalline Osmium: The Rarest Precious Metal on Earth – https://www.katerinaperez.com/articles/crystalline-osmium-rarest-precious-metal-intriguing-jewellers-watchmakers

[26] Emerging Trends in Osmium Recycling: A Technology Perspective 2025-2033 – https://www.marketreportanalytics.com/reports/osmium-recycling-63435