ruthenium

[ roo-thee-nee-uhm, -theen-yuhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a steel-gray, rare metallic element, belonging to the platinum group of metals. : Ru; : 101.07; : 44; : 12.2 at 20°C.

ruthenium

/ ruːˈθiːnɪəm /

noun

1. a hard brittle white element of the platinum metal group. It occurs free with other platinum metals in pentlandite and other ores and is used to harden platinum and palladium. Symbol: Ru; atomic no: 44; atomic wt: 101.07; valency: 0–8; relative density: 12.41; melting pt: 2334°C; boiling pt: 4150°C

ruthenium

/ ro̅o̅-thē′nē-əm /

1. A rare, silvery-gray metallic element that is hard, brittle, and very resistant to corrosion. It is used to harden alloys of platinum and palladium for jewelry and electrical contacts. Atomic number 44; atomic weight 101.07; melting point 2,310°C; boiling point 3,900°C; specific gravity 12.41; valence 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruthenium¹

1840–50; < New Latin, named after Ruthenia (from the fact that it was first found in ore from the region); -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of ruthenium¹

C19: from Medieval Latin Ruthenia Russia, where it was first discovered

Example Sentences

Remi Guillemin, head of watches for Europe and the Americas for auction house Christie’s, declined to identify the buyer, but said that five watches in the Ruthenium collection — a boxed set — were purchased by the same buyer.

From Seattle Times

For the current study, the team focused on a catalyst called ruthenium dioxide that speeds up the oxygen half of the reaction, since that's the bottleneck in the process.

From Science Daily

They zapped nanocrystals of ruthenium dioxide with high-energy radiation, and then watched the changes wrought by the acidic environment inside the cell.

From Science Daily

Among these, ruthenium -- a platinum group metal -- has emerged as an important and commonly used catalyst.

From Science Daily

However, while a powerful and cost-effective material, highly reactive ruthenium catalysts have long been hindered by their sensitivity to air, posing significant challenges in their application.

From Science Daily