Periodic Table

Ruthenium

Transition Metal

Quick Facts about Ruthenium

Tc
  • solid- state of matter at room temperature
  • Stable- has at least one stable isotope
  • +3- common oxidation states in compounds
  • HEX- crystal structure, atomic arrangement in solid form
Rh

Ruthenium (Ru) is element 44 on the periodic table. Atomic mass of Ru: 101.0700 u. Ru is in period 5, group 8. Melting point of Ru: 2607.00 K.Density of Ru: 12.45 g/cm³.

Why Ruthenium Matters

Ruthenium in everyday life and industry

In Your Home

  • Your computer's hard drive has ultra-thin ruthenium layers enabling high-density data storage
  • Quality fountain pens may have ruthenium-tipped nibs for smooth, durable writing
  • Some jewelry uses ruthenium plating for a dark, gunmetal finish

Industry Uses

ElectronicsEssential for perpendicular magnetic recording in modern hard drives
ChemicalCatalysts for petroleum refining and ammonia production
MedicalRu-106 eye plaques treat ocular melanoma with targeted radiation
ResearchDye-sensitized solar cells and anticancer drug development

In Your Body

✗ Not essential

Ruthenium has no known biological role. Some ruthenium compounds are being researched as anticancer drugs. Ruthenium red dye is used in biological microscopy staining.

Safety: The metal is generally considered non-toxic in its metallic form

Discovery of Ruthenium

Discovered by Karl Klaus in Russia, 1844

Name origin: Latin: Ruthenia (Russia).

History & Events

1827
Named after 'Ruthenia,' the Latin name for Russia
1844
Discovered by Karl Klaus in 1844 at Kazan University, Russia
1827
One of the rarest platinum group metals
1827
Remained a laboratory curiosity until the electronics age

About Ruthenium

Hard white metallic transition element. Found with platinum, used as a catalyst in some platinum alloys. Dissolves in fused alkalis, and is not attacked by acids. Reacts with halogens and oxygen at high temperatures. Isolated in 1844 by K.K. Klaus.

Atomic Properties of Ru

Atomic Number of Ru
44
Atomic Mass of Ru
101.0700 u
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d7 5s1
Electronegativity
2.20
Block
d-block
Group
8
Period
5

Physical Properties of Ru

Phase (STP)
solid
Melting Point of Ru
2607.00 K
Boiling Point of Ru
4423.00 K
Density of Ru
12.4500 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Heat of Fusion
25.50 kJ/mol
Specific Heat
0.24 J/g·K
Molar Heat Capacity
24.06 J/mol·K
Thermal Conductivity
117.00 W/m·K

Atomic Radii

Calculated
130 pm
Covalent
125 pm
Van der Waals
213 pm
Metallic
125 pm

Common Misconceptions

Wrong:Ruthenium and rutherfordium are related.
Correct:Ruthenium (Ru, #44) is named after Russia. Rutherfordium (Rf, #104) honors Ernest Rutherford. Similar names, no connection.
Wrong:Platinum group metals are all extremely expensive.
Correct:Ruthenium is often the cheapest platinum group metal—sometimes 1/10th the price of rhodium or platinum.
Wrong:Ruthenium is magnetic.
Correct:Pure ruthenium isn't magnetic, but adding it to certain alloys can create magnetic materials.

Isotopes of Ruthenium

Ruthenium has 7 naturally occurring isotopes, plus 1 notable radioactive isotope.

IsotopeAtomic Mass (u)AbundanceHalf-LifeDecay Mode
9644Ru (Ru-96)Ruthenium-96 isotope95.907590255.540%
9844Ru (Ru-98)Ruthenium-98 isotope97.90528681.870%
9944Ru (Ru-99)Ruthenium-99 isotope98.905934112.76%
10044Ru (Ru-100)Ruthenium-100 isotope99.904214312.60%
10144Ru (Ru-101)Ruthenium-101 isotope100.905576917.06%
10244Ru (Ru-102)Ruthenium-102 isotope101.904344131.55%
10444Ru (Ru-104)Ruthenium-104 isotope103.905427518.62%
10644Ru (Ru-106)Ruthenium-106 isotope105.9073290%373.6 daysβ⁻

Data source: NIH PubChem (aggregated from IUPAC, NIST)

Isotope Applications

Isotopes of Ruthenium have important real-world applications in science and industry.

Medical Applications

106Ru plaque brachytherapy has been used for eye preservation and tumor control of uveal (the middle layer of the wall of the eye) melanoma [333]. The half-life of 106Ru is 373 days.

Abundance

Earth's Crust
1.00 μg/kg
Seawater
7.00×10-7 mg/L

Uses

Used to harden platinum and palladium. Aircraft magnetos use platinum alloy with 10% ruthenium.

Sources

Found in pentlandite and pyroxinite.

Geochemistry

Goldschmidt
siderophile
Geochemical Class
noble metal

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