What is Ruthenium?
Ruthenium is a metallic chemical element which is fairly rare in the Earth's crust. It has a number of applications, most of which takes advantage of its corrosion-resistance and hardness, in products such as metal alloys. Consumers do not generally interact with ruthenium directly, although some luxury goods like platinum rings and fancy fountain pens include small amounts of this element. It is moderately costly in pure form, and most of the world's ruthenium is produced in mines in Russia and South America.
In appearance, ruthenium is a dull silver-gray element which tends to be very brittle and extremely hard. It has four allotropic forms, which means that it has four different crystalline structures in its pure form, depending on various conditions like exposure to heat, pressure, and air. When exposed to air and high temperatures, pure ruthenium will oxidize rapidly. The metal is also highly resistant to acids, and it forms a number of compounds with other materials. On the periodic table of elements, ruthenium is labeled with the symbol Ru, and it has an atomic number of 44.
Several people lay claim to the discovery of ruthenium. The credit is generally given to a Russian chemist, Karl Klaus, who successfully isolated ruthenium from impure platinum ores. He named the element after the Latin word Ruthenia, which was used to describe Rus, an early form of the Russian empire which stretched across parts of Eastern Europe and modern-day Russia. Since Klaus was from Eastern Europe, he wanted to celebrate his homeland in his name for his successful discovery.
Alloys of metals like platinum and palladium frequently feature ruthenium for strength and durability. The metal is also used to make wear-resistant moving parts for various consumer goods, and it appears in some electronics. In nature, ruthenium is usually associated with platinum, and it is unusual to find it in a pure form. Some purification systems also use ruthenium components, and medical researchers have explored the use of ruthenium compounds in cancer treatment.
Study on ruthenium suggests that it may be carcinogenic, and it also bioaccumulates in the human body, since the body has no way to process it, as it is not a dietary necessity. The pure element will also stain the skin if handled directly. Certain ruthenium compounds and oxides are certainly toxic, and they should be carefully handled to avoid exposure.
Written by S.E. Smith
