iridium

Definition

Iridium is a very hard, dense metal that is often found in meteorites. It is the second heaviest naturally occurring element on Earth, after osmium. Iridium is a silvery-white metal that is very resistant to corrosion. It is also very rare, making it very expensive.

Iridium is used in a variety of applications, including:

Making jewellery and other decorative objects
Making high-temperature alloys
Making electrical contacts
Plating other metals to make them more resistant to corrosion
Studying the composition of meteorites

How can the word be used?

Iridium is a very rare element.

Different forms of the word

Noun: iridium (pronounced ih-rid-ee-um).

Adjective: iridium.

Verb: iridize (pronounced ih-rid-uh-zayz).

Etymology

The word "iridium" comes from the Greek word "ἴρις", which means "rainbow". This is a reference to the fact that iridium can sometimes have a rainbow-like sheen.

The Greek word "ἴρις" is also the root of the word "iris", which is the colored part of the eye.

Question

What can iridium be used for?