Article
Article
Ruthenium
Article By:
Creutz, Carol Department of Chemistry, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Associated University Inc., Upton, New York.
Last reviewed:January 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.596500
A chemical element, Ru, atomic number 44. The element is a brittle gray-white metal of low natural abundance, usually found alloyed with other platinum metals in nature. Ruthenium occurs as seven stable isotopes, and more than ten radioactive (unstable) isotopes are known. Four allotropes of the metal are known. Ruthenium is a hard white metal, workable only at elevated temperatures. It can be melted with an electric arc or an electron beam. See also: Isotope; Metal; Periodic table; Radioisotope; Transition elements
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