Iridium

 Iridium =Element Name= By: Geordie


 * Atomic Number:** 77


 * Protons:** 77
 * Electrons:** 77


 * Neutrons:** 77


 * Average Atomic Mass:** 192.217


 * Isotopes:** Ir-191, Ir-193


 * Discovery:** Iridium was discovered in 1803 by Smithson Tennant in London, England, among insoluble impurities in natural platinum from South America. Although it is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust, with annual production and consumption of only three tonnes, it has a number of specialized industrial and scientific applications.

**Name:** It was named after the latin word iridis or rainbow.
 * Uses:**
 * making crucibles and apparatus for use at high temperatures
 * electrical contacts
 * hardening agent for platinum
 * it forms an alloy with osmium used for tipping pens and compass bearings
 * Pt/Ir sparkplugs, as used in the MG-F.


 * Interesting Facts**: Its used to make radioisotope thermoelectric generators used in unmanned spacecraft.


 * Video:** media type="youtube" key="0OOJ7qBwVHU" height="344" width="425"

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 * Sources**
 * Photo: []
 * Video:[| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OOJ7qBwVHU]
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