Iridium is a chemical element with symbol Ir and atomic number 77. A very hard, brittle, silvery-white Transition Metal of the platinum group, iridium is generally credited with being the second densest element (after osmium) based on measured density, although calculations involving the space lattices of the elements show that iridium is denser. It is also the most corrosion-resistant metal, even at temperatures as high as 2000 °C. Although only certain molten salts and Halogens are corrosive to solid iridium, finely divided iridium dust is much more reactive and can be flammable.
It belongs to group 9 of the periodic table having trivial name .
Iridium Facts
Read key information and facts about element Iridium
Name | Iridium |
Atomic Number | 77 |
Atomic Symbol | Ir |
Atomic Weight | 192.217 |
Phase | Solid |
Color | Silver |
Appearance | silvery white |
Classification | Transition Metal |
Group in Periodic Table | 9 |
Group Name | cobalt family |
Period in Periodic Table | period 6 |
Block in Periodic Table | d -block |
Electronic Configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d7 6s2 |
Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell) | 2, 8, 18, 32, 15, 2 |
Melting Point | 2739 K |
Boiling Point | 4701 K |
CAS Number | CAS7439-88-5 |
How to Locate Iridium on Periodic Table
Periodic table is arranged by atomic number, number of protons in the nucleus which is same as number of electrons. The atomic number increases from left to right. Periodic table starts at top left ( Atomic number 1) and ends at bottom right (atomic number 118). Therefore you can directly look for atomic number 77 to find Iridium on periodic table.
Another way to read periodic table and locate an element is by using group number (column) and period number (row). To locate Iridium on periodic table look for cross section of group 9 and period 6 in the modern periodic table.
Iridium History
The element Iridium was discovered by S. Tennant in year 1803 in France and United Kingdom. Iridium was first isolated by S. Tennant in 1803. Iridium derived its name from Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow.
Tennant had been working on samples of South American platinum in parallel with Wollaston and discovered two new elements, which he named osmium and iridium, and published the iridium results in 1804.
Iridium Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us
The table below shows the abundance of Iridium in Universe, Sun, Meteorites, Earth's Crust, Oceans and Human Body.
ppb by weight (1ppb =10^-7 %) | ppb by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %) | |
---|---|---|
Abundance in Universe | 2 | 0.01 |
Abundance in Sun | 2 | 0.01 |
Abundance in Meteorites | 550 | 60 |
Abundance in Earth's Crust | 0.4 | 0.05 |
Abundance in Oceans | - | - |
Abundance in Humans | - | - |
Crystal Structure of Iridium
The solid state structure of Iridium is Face Centered Cubic.
The Crystal structure can be described in terms of its unit Cell. The unit Cells repeats itself in three dimensional space to form the structure.
Unit Cell Parameters
The unit cell is represented in terms of its lattice parameters, which are the lengths of the cell edges Lattice Constants (a, b and c)
a | b | c |
---|---|---|
383.9 pm | 383.9 pm | 383.9 pm |
and the angles between them Lattice Angles (alpha, beta and gamma).
alpha | beta | gamma |
---|---|---|
π/2 | π/2 | π/2 |
The positions of the atoms inside the unit cell are described by the set of atomic positions ( xi, yi, zi) measured from a reference lattice point.
The symmetry properties of the crystal are described by the concept of space groups. All possible symmetric arrangements of particles in three-dimensional space are described by the 230 space groups (219 distinct types, or 230 if chiral copies are considered distinct.
Space Group Name | Fm_ 3m |
Space Group Number | 225 |
Crystal Structure | Face Centered Cubic |
Number of atoms per unit cell | 4 |

The number of atoms per unit cell in a simple cubic, face-centered cubic and body-centred cubic are 1,4,2 respectively.
Iridium Atomic and Orbital Properties
Iridium atoms have 77 electrons and the electronic shell structure is [2, 8, 18, 32, 15, 2] with Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) 4F9/2.
Atomic Number | 77 |
Number of Electrons (with no charge) | 77 |
Number of Protons | 77 |
Mass Number | 192 |
Number of Neutrons | 115 |
Shell structure (Electrons per energy level) | 2, 8, 18, 32, 15, 2 |
Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d7 6s2 |
Valence Electrons | 5d7 6s2 |
Valence (Valency) | 6 |
Main Oxidation States | 3, 4 |
Oxidation States | -3, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) | 4F9/2 |
Bohr Atomic Model of Iridium - Electrons per energy level

n | s | p | d | f |
---|
Ground State Electronic Configuration of Iridium - neutral Iridium atom
Abbreviated electronic configuration of Iridium
The ground state abbreviated electronic configuration of Neutral Iridium atom is [Xe] 4f14 5d7 6s2. The portion of Iridium configuration that is equivalent to the noble gas of the preceding period, is abbreviated as [Xe]. For atoms with many electrons, this notation can become lengthy and so an abbreviated notation is used. This is important as it is the Valence electrons 5d7 6s2, electrons in the outermost shell that determine the chemical properties of the element.
Unabbreviated electronic configuration of neutral Iridium
Complete ground state electronic configuration for the Iridium atom, Unabbreviated electronic configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 4f14 5d7 6s2
Electrons are filled in atomic orbitals as per the order determined by the Aufbau principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle and Hund’s Rule.

Atomic Structure of Iridium
Iridium atomic radius is 180 pm, while it's covalent radius is 137 pm.
Atomic Radius Calculated | 180 pm (1.8 Å) |
Atomic Radius Empirical | 135 pm (1.35 Å) |
Atomic Volume | 8.5203 cm3/mol |
Covalent Radius | 137 pm (1.37 Å) |
Van der Waals Radius | - |
Neutron Cross Section | 425 |
Neutron Mass Absorption | 0.08 |
Atomic Spectrum of Iridium
Iridium Chemical Properties: Iridium Ionization Energies and electron affinity
The electron affinity of Iridium is 151 kJ/mol.
Valence | 6 |
Electronegativity | 2.2 |
ElectronAffinity | 151 kJ/mol |
Ionization Energy of Iridium
Refer to table below for Ionization energies of Iridium
Ionization energy number | Enthalpy - kJ/mol |
---|---|
1st | 880 |
2nd | 1600 |
Iridium Physical Properties
Refer to below table for Iridium Physical Properties
Density | 22.56 g/cm3(when liquid at m.p density is $19 g/cm3) |
Molar Volume | 8.5203 cm3/mol |
Elastic Properties
Young Modulus | 528 |
Shear Modulus | 210 GPa |
Bulk Modulus | 320 GPa |
Poisson Ratio | 0.26 |
Hardness of Iridium - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element
Mohs Hardness | 6.5 MPa |
Vickers Hardness | 1760 MPa |
Brinell Hardness | 1670 MPa |
Iridium Electrical Properties
Iridium is Conductor of electricity. Refer to table below for the Electrical properties ofIridium
Electrical Conductivity | 21000000 S/m |
Resistivity | 4.7e-8 m Ω |
Superconducting Point | 0.11 |
Iridium Heat and Conduction Properties
Thermal Conductivity | 150 W/(m K) |
Thermal Expansion | 0.0000064 /K |
Iridium Magnetic Properties
Magnetic Type | Paramagnetic |
Curie Point | - |
Mass Magnetic Susceptibility | 1.67e-9 m3/kg |
Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | 3.21e-10 m3/mol |
Volume Magnetic Susceptibility | 0.0000377 |
Optical Properties of Iridium
Refractive Index | - |
Acoustic Properties of Iridium
Speed of Sound | 4825 m/s |
Iridium Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics
Refer to table below for Thermal properties of Iridium
Melting Point | 2739 K (2465.85°C, 4470.53 °F) |
Boiling Point | 4701 K (4427.85°C, 8002.13 °F) |
Critical Temperature | - |
Superconducting Point | 0.11 |
Enthalpies of Iridium
Heat of Fusion | 26 kJ/mol |
Heat of Vaporization | 560 kJ/mol |
Heat of Combustion | - |
Iridium Isotopes - Nuclear Properties of Iridium
Iridium has 36 isotopes, with between 164 and 199 nucleons. Iridium has 2 stable naturally occuring isotopes.
Isotopes of Iridium - Naturally occurring stable Isotopes: 191Ir, 193Ir.
Isotope | Z | N | Isotope Mass | % Abundance | T half | Decay Mode |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
164Ir | 77 | 87 | 164 | Synthetic | ||
165Ir | 77 | 88 | 165 | Synthetic | ||
166Ir | 77 | 89 | 166 | Synthetic | ||
167Ir | 77 | 90 | 167 | Synthetic | ||
168Ir | 77 | 91 | 168 | Synthetic | ||
169Ir | 77 | 92 | 169 | Synthetic | ||
170Ir | 77 | 93 | 170 | Synthetic | ||
171Ir | 77 | 94 | 171 | Synthetic | ||
172Ir | 77 | 95 | 172 | Synthetic | ||
173Ir | 77 | 96 | 173 | Synthetic | ||
174Ir | 77 | 97 | 174 | Synthetic | ||
175Ir | 77 | 98 | 175 | Synthetic | ||
176Ir | 77 | 99 | 176 | Synthetic | ||
177Ir | 77 | 100 | 177 | Synthetic | ||
178Ir | 77 | 101 | 178 | Synthetic | ||
179Ir | 77 | 102 | 179 | Synthetic | ||
180Ir | 77 | 103 | 180 | Synthetic | ||
181Ir | 77 | 104 | 181 | Synthetic | ||
182Ir | 77 | 105 | 182 | Synthetic | ||
183Ir | 77 | 106 | 183 | Synthetic | ||
184Ir | 77 | 107 | 184 | Synthetic | ||
185Ir | 77 | 108 | 185 | Synthetic | ||
186Ir | 77 | 109 | 186 | Synthetic | ||
187Ir | 77 | 110 | 187 | Synthetic | ||
188Ir | 77 | 111 | 188 | Synthetic | ||
189Ir | 77 | 112 | 189 | Synthetic | ||
190Ir | 77 | 113 | 190 | Synthetic | ||
191Ir | 77 | 114 | 191 | 37.3% | Stable | N/A |
192Ir | 77 | 115 | 192 | Synthetic | Stable | |
193Ir | 77 | 116 | 193 | 62.7% | Stable | N/A |
194Ir | 77 | 117 | 194 | Synthetic | ||
195Ir | 77 | 118 | 195 | Synthetic | ||
196Ir | 77 | 119 | 196 | Synthetic | ||
197Ir | 77 | 120 | 197 | Synthetic | ||
198Ir | 77 | 121 | 198 | Synthetic | ||
199Ir | 77 | 122 | 199 | Synthetic |
Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines
Database Search
List of unique identifiers to search the element in various chemical registry databases
Database | Identifier number |
---|---|
CAS Number - Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) | CAS7439-88-5 |
RTECS Number | - |
CID Number | CID23924 |
Gmelin Number | - |
NSC Number | - |
Compare Iridium with other elements
Compare Iridium with all Group 9 elements
Compare Iridium with all Period 6 elements
Compare Iridium with all Transition Metal elements
FAQs
What is the electronic configuration of Iridium?
The electronic configuration of Iridium is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 4f14 5d7 6s2.
What is the abbreviated electronic configuration of Iridium?
The abbreviated electronic configuration of Iridium is [Xe] 4f14 5d7 6s2. To form abbreviated notation of electronic configuration, the completely filled subshells are replaced by the noble gas of the preceding period in square brackets.
What is the symbol of Iridium?
Symbol of Iridium is Ir. Iridium is a chemical element with symbol Ir and atomic number 77.
What is the position of Iridium in the Periodic Table?
Iridium is a chemical element with the symbol Ir and atomic number 77. Iridium is the 77 element on the periodic table. It is located in group 9 and period 6 in the modern periodic table.
What is the atomic number of Iridium?
The atomic number of Iridium is 77.
What is the color of Iridium?
Iridium is of Silver color.
Who discovered Iridium?
The element Iridium was discovered by S. Tennant in year 1803 in France and United Kingdom. Iridium was first isolated by S. Tennant in 1803.
How many valence electrons does a Iridium atom have?
Iridium has 6 valence electrons. Iridium has 77 electrons out of which 6 valence electrons are present in the 5d7 6s2 outer orbitals of atom.
What is the melting Point of Iridium?
Melting Point of Iridium is 2739 K.
What is the boiling Point of Iridium?
Boiling Point of Iridium is 4701 K.
What is the melting Point of Iridium in Kelvin?
Melting Point of Iridium in Kelvin is 2739 K.
What is the boiling Point of Iridium in Kelvin?
Boiling Point of Iridium in Kelvin is 4701 K.
What is the electronic configuration of Iridium 77?
The electronic configuration of Iridium will be 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 4f14 5d7 6s2.
How do you write the electron configuration for Iridium?
The electronic configuration of Iridium will be 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 4f14 5d7 6s2.