Ru
Ruthenium
Atomic number: 44Mass: 101.07 uCategory: Transition Metal
About Ruthenium
Ruthenium is a rare transition metal belonging to the platinum group. It is hard and brittle and has four crystal modifications. It is used to harden platinum and palladium and as an efficient catalyst.
Properties
Period
5
Group
8
Block
D
Category
Transition Metal
Electronegativity
2.20 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy
710.2 kJ/mol
Melting Point
2607 K (2334°C)
Boiling Point
4423 K (4150°C)
Density
12.45 g/cm³
Oxidation States
+2, +3, +4, +6, +8
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d⁷ 5s¹
[Kr] 4d⁷ 5s¹
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:8e⁻
Shell 3:18e⁻
Shell 4:15e⁻
Shell 5:1e⁻
Real-World Uses
Electrical contacts
Catalysts
Hard disk drives
Solar cells
Alloys
Fun Fact
A tiny amount of ruthenium added to titanium makes it 100 times more corrosion-resistant — a little goes a very long way!