Emily Dickinson Lexicon

OS'MI-UM, n. [Gr. οσμη, odor.]

A metal contained in the ore of platinum. A native alloy of this metal with iridium is found in grains along the rivers in South America. Osmium has a dark gray color; it is not volatile when heated in close vessels, but heated in the open air, it absorbs oxygen and forms a volatile oxyd, or rather acid, which is insoluble in the acids, readily soluble in potassa and very volatile. It takes its name from the singular smell of this oxyd or acid. Cyc.