Difference between revisions of "Harmonium"

Harmonium is the condensed elemental form of [[Harmony]]'s power. Alloying [[atium]] and [[lerasium]] will not give harmonium. While difficult, it is possible to obtain atium and lerasium from ettmetalharmonium, but not through mechanical means.{{wob ref|12145}}

Due to the merging of [[Ruin]] and [[Preservation]]'s [[Shard|intent]]s into Harmony, ettmetalharmonium's [[Spiritual Realm|Spiritual aspect]] is in opposition with itself, leading to effects on the metal's [[Physical Realm|Physical aspect]], which makes it extremely reactive.{{wob ref|1663}}{{wob ref|2548}} It reacts violently with water, similar to [[wikipedia:Alkali_metal|alkali metals]]. After reacting with water, residual ettmetalharmonium hydroxide is left behind, though the substance's properties are unknown.{{wob ref|12680}} The [[Southern Scadrian]]s use ettmetalharmonium to create powerful bombs,{{book ref|mb6|22}} which the [[Set]] have been trying to replicate with limited success.{{book ref|mb6|epilogue}} In order to prevent this reaction, it is stored within oil.{{book ref|mb7|13}} It does not react with acids.{{book ref|mb7|13}}

When ettmetalharmonium has electric currents moving passing through it the metal softens and can be split in half.{{book ref|mb7|15}} If, during this process, [[trellium]] is inserted between the two pieces a violent reaction occurs as the matter of both metals are converted into pure energy. This reaction is not complete, only converting a small fraction of the used metals into energy.{{book ref|mb7|17}} The blast is powerful enough that not even [[Autonomy]] or Harmony are aware as to how strong an explosion of it can be.{{book ref|mb7|69}} Minor fragments of [[lerasium]] and [[atium]] are also produced by this reaction.{{book ref|mb7|71}}{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|4}}

EttmetalHarmonium and Trellium repel each other, with the strength of repulsion becoming stronger the closer they are forced together.{{book ref|mb7|15}}

The [[Allomancy|Allomantic]], [[Feruchemy|Feruchemical]], and [[Hemalurgy|Hemalurgic]] properties of ettmetalharmonium are unknown.{{wob ref|6082}} Because of its volatile nature near water, ingesting ettmetalharmonium is likely to be fatal for Allomancers, though a full [[Allomancy|Mistborn]] who is also able to heal through the explosive damage (e.g., by [[Compounding]] [[Gold#Feruchemical Use|Feruchemical gold]] for health) could burn it for some effect.{{wob ref|9321}} Hemalurgic spikes would also likely be difficult to create, due to the metal's reactivity, however, it is not impossible.{{wob ref|9275}}

In conjunction with Southern [[Scadrian]] technology, ettmetalharmonium can reproduce Allomantic or Feruchemical powers within its vicinity.{{book ref|mb6|17}}{{book ref|mb6|29}} The Southern Scadrians have also used the metal in '''primer cubes''' which can somehow regulate ettmetalharmonium's effects with the flip of a switch.{{book ref|mb6|17}} When used Allomantically, the metal is said to burn "with a pure whiteness" and will slowly be consumed,{{book ref|mb6|22}} 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 [[steel]]pushing.{{book ref|mb6|22}} It is theoretically possible to use a primer cube to reproduce other [[Investiture]]s, such as [[Surgebinding]].{{wob ref|15665}}

*[[Brandon Sanderson]] has described harmonium as "super-cesium" in reference to its violent chemical reaction with water.{{wob ref|2544}} [[Wikipedia:Cesium|Cesium]], like other real-life [[wikipedia:Alkali_metal|alkali metals]], is extremely reactive and will cause an explosion with water even at sub-zero temperatures. He later clarified that cesium was not intended as a direct analogue; ettmetalharmonium would theoretically be classified as an alkali metal, although it has a different melting point.{{wob ref|10577}}