OsO4
Osmium tetroxide · osmic acid
Osmium tetroxide is a stable, insulating inorganic compound widely utilized as a potent oxidizing agent and a vital staining reagent in electron microscopy.
About Osmium tetroxide
Osmium tetroxide is a highly distinctive inorganic oxide characterized by its insulating electronic nature and exceptional thermodynamic stability. It exists as a volatile solid that plays a critical role in specialized chemical processes due to its ability to interact selectively with organic structures.
This compound is widely valued in laboratory settings for its utility in staining biological samples and facilitating specific oxidation reactions. Its position on the convex hull underscores its structural reliability, making it a foundational reagent in advanced analytical and synthetic chemistry.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Osmium tetroxide, aggregated across 3 databases.
Band GapEnergy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. Lower or zero values tend to behave more metallic; larger gaps are more insulating or semiconducting.
Energy Above HullThermodynamic distance from the most stable set of competing phases. 0 eV/atom is on the convex hull; small positive values may still be experimentally accessible.
StabilityA plain-language summary of the best reported energy-above-hull result. It reflects whether the lowest-energy structure is on, near, or far from the stability hull.
StructuresCount of reported calculated crystal structures for this formula, including alternate polymorphs, source databases, and observed space groups.
Synthesis Routes
Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting OsO4.
Applications
Where Osmium tetroxide is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Osmium tetroxide, answered from cross-validated data.
What is OsO4?
Osmium tetroxide is a stable, insulating inorganic compound widely utilized as a potent oxidizing agent and a vital staining reagent in electron microscopy.
What is OsO4 used for?
What is the band gap of OsO4?
Is OsO4 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is OsO4 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of OsO4 are known?
How is OsO4 synthesized?
What elements does OsO4 contain?
Where does the data for OsO4 come from?
How It Compares
As a singular, highly specialized oxide, osmium tetroxide stands apart from typical structural ceramics or semiconductors due to its unique volatility and potent reactivity. It serves as a benchmark for heavy-metal oxides used in precision staining and catalytic applications.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
Analyze OsO4 in the Lattice Graph platform
Polymorph comparison, confidence scoring, supply-chain risk, and patent monitoring — across 53 integrated data sources.
Explore the Platform →