OSMIUM TETROXIDE AND ITS APPLICATIONS.

Abstract

Osmium tetroxide, OsO//4, is the most important and most easily prepared compound of osmium. It is one of the few volatile oxides of a heavy metal and although the osmium is octavalent (of all elements only osmium and ruthenium reach as high an oxidation state) it is a reasonably controllable oxidizing agent. Most of its applications derive from this property. One of the major uses of the compound OsO//4 is for the oxidation of olefins. The compound is extensively used (normally in 2 per cent aqueous solution, often called ″osmic acid″ ) for cell and tissue studies, because of its unique fixation and staining properties. Its ability to passify iron electrodes provides corrosion protection in electrolytes.