Harmonium
| Harmonium | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Metal type | God Metal (Harmony) | ||||
| Properties | Power Metallic Arts technologies Explode when mixed with water | ||||
| Universe | Cosmere | ||||
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Ettmetal, also known as harmonium, is the God Metal of Harmony. It is used in some of the Southern Scadrians' Metallic Arts technologies.[1][2]
Properties
Harmonium is the condensed elemental form of Harmony's power. Alloying atium and lerasium will not give harmonium. Additionally, splitting harmonium through distillation will give something different from atium and lerasium. While difficult, it is possible to obtain atium and lerasium from ettmetal through some other means.[3]
Safety Issues
Due to the merging of Ruin and Preservation's intents into Harmony, ettmetal's Spiritual aspect is in opposition with itself, leading to effects on the metal's Physical aspect, particularly its chemical properties, which makes it extremely reactive.[4][5] After reacting with water, residual ettmetal hydroxide is left behind, though the substance's properties are unknown.[6] The Southern Scadrians use ettmetal to create powerful bombs,[7] which the Set have been trying to replicate with limited success.[8]
Metallic Arts
The Allomantic, Feruchemical, and Hemalurgic properties of ettmetal are unknown.[9] Because of its volatile nature near water, ingesting ettmetal is likely to be fatal for Allomancers, though a full Mistborn, with access to gold Compounding, could burn it for some effect.[10] Hemalurgic spikes would also likely be difficult to create, due to the metals reactivity, however, it is not impossible.[11]
Mechanical Uses
In conjunction with south Scadrian technology, ettmetal can reproduce Allomantic or Feruchemical powers within its vicinity.[12][13] The Southern Scadrian have also used the metal in primer cubes which can somehow regulate ettmetal's effects with the flip of a switch.[12] When used Allomantically, the metal is said to burn "with a pure whiteness" and will slowly be consumed,[7] in the same way it would be by a Misting or Mistborn. It is used to fuel Southern Scadrian Allomantic technology, including their airships that run via steelpushing.[7]
Trivia
- The term "harmonium" has never been used in the stories published so far, but Brandon Sanderson introduced the term in one of his talks even before the release of Shadows of Self[14] and has afterwards confirmed that it is another term for ettmetal.[2] Marasi probably did not know the term harmonium when Allik described ettmetal to her, as otherwise the word would have translated.[7]
- If harmonium followed the naming conventions of the other god metals it would have been named Sazedium. However, Sazed didn't like the sound of it.[1]
- Brandon Sanderson has described harmonium as "super-cesium" in reference to its violent chemical reaction with water.[2] Cesium, like other alkali metals, is an extremely reactive real life metal and will cause an explosion with water even at sub-zero temperatures.
Notes
- ↑ a b /r/books AMA 2015
— Arcanum - 2015-07-06# - ↑ a b c Arcanum Unbounded Hoboken signing
— Arcanum - 2016-12-03# - ↑ Skyward Houston signing
— Arcanum - 2018-11-19# - ↑ Boskone 54
— Arcanum - 2017-02-19# - ↑ Arcanum Unbounded Hoboken signing
— Arcanum - 2016-12-03# - ↑ Stuttgart signing
— Arcanum - 2019-05-17# - ↑ a b c d The Bands of Mourning chapter 22#
- ↑ The Bands of Mourning epilogue#
- ↑ Hero of Ages Q&A - Time Waster's Guide
— Arcanum - 2008-10-15# - ↑ Emerald City Comic Con 2018
— Arcanum - 2018-03-01# - ↑ Emerald City Comic Con 2018
— Arcanum - 2018-03-01# - ↑ a b The Bands of Mourning chapter 17#
- ↑ The Bands of Mourning chapter 29#
- ↑ Salt Lake City Comic-Con 2014
— Arcanum - 2014-09-04#