Ru
Ruthenium is a rare platinum group metal known for its hardness and catalytic properties.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 101.07 u |
| Density | 12.37 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 2607.0 K |
| Boiling Point | 4423.0 K |
| Appearance | Silvery-white metallic |
| State at Room Temp | Solid |
Chemical Properties
| Electronegativity | 2.2 (Pauling) |
| 1st Ionization Energy | 710.2 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | 101.3 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7, +8 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [Kr] 4d7 5s1 |
| Atomic Radius | 134.0 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 146.0 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 207.0 pm |
Discovery
| Discovered By | Karl Ernst Claus |
| Discovery Year | 1844 |
| Location | Kazan, Russia |
| Named After | Latin 'Ruthenia' meaning Russia |
About Ruthenium
Ruthenium is a hard, silvery-white metal of the platinum group and one of the rarest elements on Earth. It is unaffected by air, water, and acids but dissolves in molten alkalis.
Uses & Applications
Hardening platinum and palladium alloys, electrical contacts, thick-film resistors, catalysts, and solar cells.
Fun Fact
Ruthenium is one of the rarest elements on Earth with only about 0.001 ppm in the crust.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 99 | 0.1276% | - | Yes |
| 100 | 0.126% | - | Yes |
| 101 | 0.1706% | - | Yes |
| 102 | 0.3155% | - | Yes |
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d7 5s1