This base list of ten elements are the “heaviest” by their density of each cubic cm.
However, keep in mind that density is not mass, it just describes how close the mass is.
Now that we understand that, let’s take a look at the heaviest elements in the entire known universe… (Main image is an unlisted bismuth crystal)
tantalum
10 – Tantalum (Density per cubic cm: 16.67 g)
The atomic number of tantalum is seventy-three.
Uranium
9 – Uranium (Density per cubic cm: 19.05 g)
Discovered in 1789 by the German chemist Martin H.
8 – Tungsten (Density per cubic cm: 19.26 g)
Tungsten exists in four different minerals and is also the heaviest of all the elements known to play a biological role.
Gold
7 – Gold (Density per cubic cm: 19.29 g)
They say money doesn’t grow on trees, but gold does!
Small traces of gold have been found in the leaves of eucalyptus trees.
6 – Plutonium (Density per cubic cm: 20.26 g)
The chameleon of the elements.
5 – Neptunium (Density per cubic cm: 20.47 g)
Named for the planet Neptune, it was discovered by Professor Edwin McMillan in 1940.
It was also the first synthetic transuranic element of the actinide series to be discovered.
4 – Rhenium (Density per cubic cm: 21.01 g)
Rhenium comes from the Latin ‘Rhenus’ which means ‘Rhine’ and was discovered by Walter Noddack in Germany in 1925.
Platinum
3 – Platinum (Density per cubic cm: 21.45 g)
One of the most precious metals on this list (besides gold) and is used to make almost everything.
In fact, not much (try doing that with gold).
2 – Iridium (Density per cubic cm: 22.56 g)
Discovered in London in 1803 by Smithson Tennant, he found it in the residue left over when raw platinum was dissolved!
Yes, discovered by pure chance.
Osmium
1 – Osmium (Density per cubic cm: 22.59 g)
It does not get heavier (per cubic cm) than osmium.
Strangely, its name comes from the Greek term osme, which means smell.
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The 10 most common elements in the entire known universe
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