# Is there anything denser than Osmium? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 5, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-denser-than-osmium/700432 "2014-10-05T02:30:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-denser-than-osmium/700432/1 "2014-10-05T02:30:26Z")
I am aware that osmium is the densest element on the periodic table. But I am wondering if there is any kind of alloy or compound that is denser than pure osmium. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-denser-than-osmium/700432/2 "2014-10-05T03:05:29Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > I am aware that osmium is the densest element on the periodic table. But I am wondering if there is any kind of alloy or compound that is denser than pure osmium. According to this iridium may actually be in the running as that element > **[What Is the Densest Element on the Periodic Table?](https://www.thoughtco.com/densest-element-on-the-periodic-table-606626)** > > Which of the 118 elements on the periodic table has the highest density or mass per unit volume? We've got the answer to that question. For that matter, something that can be considered as a element neutroium, atomic number zero, would pack much more densely if you can get them together fast enough to offset it’s apx 10 minute halflife. ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-denser-than-osmium/700432/3 "2014-10-05T04:16:41Z")
You might get an interstitial alloy that has a higher density. Pack a few smaller atomsin the spaces in the crystal lattice. Osmium hydride might be a contender. As might alloys with lithuim through to (I would guess) carbon. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-denser-than-osmium/700432/4 "2014-10-05T14:10:34Z")
Osmium iridium alloy is denser than either of the pure elements. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-denser-than-osmium/700432/5 "2014-10-06T00:51:51Z")
Mallory Metal > **[Mallory metal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallory_metal)** > > Mallory metal is proprietary name for an alloy of tungsten, with other metallic elements added to improve machining. > Its primary use is as a balance weight which is added to the crankshaft of an automotive engine, where the existing counterweight is not large enough to compensate for the weight of the reciprocating and rotating components attached to the crankshaft's connecting rod journals. > Rather than add to the counterweight by welding or fabrication, holes are drilled in structurally safe po... is the stuff they use to balance automotive crankshafts. Twice as dense as steel. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-denser-than-osmium/700432/6 "2014-10-06T01:00:08Z")
“Twice as dense as steel” is pretty high, but it’s not really that impressive in a discussion which leads off with osmium and goes up from there. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-denser-than-osmium/700432/7 "2014-10-06T01:15:11Z")
My Golden Retriever’s skull. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-denser-than-osmium/700432/8 "2014-10-06T01:17:54Z")
Anti-vaxxers.