Verterium

Verterium was a type of isotopic substance that, in its gaseous form, was invisible with a distinctive smell. The gas was poisonous to humanoid life, whereas exposure could cause a quick death without the use of a filter mask or the reintroduction of oxygen; Changelings, however, were seemingly immune to its effects. 
Under normal circumstances, verterium gas was monitored by atmospheric diagnostics aboard Federation starships, and its isotopic concentration could be measured by a standard sensor sweep. ()
Verterium was used aboard Federation starships in the form of verterium cortenide, which was a densified composite material used in the construction of the inner layer of warp coils. When irradiated, such as by a plasma burst, this inner layer of the warp coils can be burned away. The verterium cortenide composite, itself, was made from polysilicate verterium and monocrystal cortenum. () 
Similarly, verterium gas was used aboard starships for insulating warp coils contained within valve controlled pipes. ()
The planet Hemikek, located in the Delta Quadrant, was "quite rich in minerals" according to Neelix, who, in 2372, thought that could acquire some verterium and cortenum from the consortium of non-aggressive people who owned the mining rights on that planet. ()
In 2401, the Changeling saboteur disguised as the Starfleet Ensign , sabotaged the by disabling the atmospheric diagnoistics then phasering a verterium gas line allowed the ship to be surreptitiously tracked by Vadic, from aboard the , with a mass spectrometer. () 
== See also ==
* Veridium
* Viridium patch
* Viridium tracker
Category:Materials