Entity: RUTHENIUM
Ruthenium is a rare, hard, silvery-white metallic element found in platinum ores, known for its use as a catalyst and in alloy hardening.
RUTHENIUM
Etymology
The name 'ruthenium' is derived from the Latin word 'Ruthenia', which means Russia.
Definition
Ruthenium is a steel-gray, rare metallic element belonging to the platinum group of metals. It is symbolized by Ru with an atomic number of 44.
Historical Context
Ruthenium was discovered in 1844 by Karl Ernst Claus, a Russian scientist. It is known for its unreactive nature to most chemicals and its use in various industrial applications.
Cultural Significance
Ruthenium is used in jewelry, electronics, and as a catalyst in chemical reactions. It plays a crucial role in the production of various alloys.
Related Concepts
Ruthenium is part of the platinum group of metals and is often found associated with platinum in nature.
See Also
A steel-gray, rare metallic element belonging to the platinum group of metals.