Iridium
Iridio (Ir, Z=77)
- Date
- 1803 · confidence high
- Place
- London, United Kingdom
- Credited to
- Smithson Tennant
- People
- 👤 Smithson Tennant1761–1815
- Field
- Matter & energy
What was discovered
Tennant isolated it from the platinum residue alongside osmium, naming it after the varied colours of its salts (Iris).
One of the most corrosion-resistant elements.
What it led to
- Platinum-iridium standard for the metre and kilogram
- Iridium anomaly and the impact hypothesis for the dinosaur extinction
- Spark plugs and high-temperature crucibles
Built on
- Platinum refining
- Aqua regia
Made possible
- International prototypes of the metre and kilogram1889
- Satellite internet megaconstellation (Starlink)2019
- International Prototype of the Kilogram
- Iridium spark plug