Iridium Definition
ĭ-rĭdē-əm
noun
A white, extremely dense, brittle, corrosion-resistant chemical element, one of the platinum metals: alloys of iridium are used in electrodes, pen points, crucibles, etc.: symbol, Ir; at. no. 77
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- atomic number 77
- ir
Origin of Iridium
-
From Latin īris īrid- rainbow (from the colors produced by dissolving it in hydrochloric acid) irido– –ium
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Ancient Greek ἶρις (iris, “rainbow”) (because of the bright colour of many of iridium's salts).
From Wiktionary
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