Ruthenium
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| General Properties | |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 44 |
| Atomic mass | 101.07amu |
| Atomic radius | 178pm |
| Electron Configuration | [Kr] 4d7 4s1 |
| Density | 12.1g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 2333°C |
| Boiling point | 4147°C |
| First discovered/ developed | 1844 |
| Most common compound on Earth | (Fe,Ni)9S8 (Impurities in Pentlandite Ore) |
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Description and uses
Ruthenium is the 44th element of the periodic table. It was discovered in 1844 when Karl Karlovich Klaus analysed a
platinum ore that contained ruthenium impurities. Ruthenium is one of the rarest metals on Earth.
Ruthenium is mainly used in electronics. For example, it is used in switches and resistors. This is due to its very high melting point, allowing it to get to
high temperatures without breaking the circuit.
Ruthenium has 7 naturally occurring isotopes, being 96Ru, 98Ru, 99Ru, 100Ru, 101Ru, 102Ru and
104Ru. The most abundant isotope is 102Ru, with an abundance of around 31.6%.