RUTHENIUM (RU)

last update 01 oct 08

* Ruthenium is a member of the transition metals family:

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   RUTHENIUM / Ru / 44

   A lustrous, silvery, highly unreactive metal.  Seven isotopes are
   found in nature:

      Ru<102/44> / 31.5%
      Ru<104/44> / 19%
      Ru<101/44> / 17
      Ru<100/44> / 12.5%
      Ru<99/44>  / 12.5%
      Ru<96/44>  /  5.5%
      Ru<98/44>  /  2%

   All are stable.

     atomic weight:       101.07
     abundance:           74th (very rare)
     density:             12.41 g/cc
     melting point:       2,310 C
     boiling point:       3,900 C
     valence:             1 2 3 <4> 5 6 7 8
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Ruthenium is produced in the tens of tonnes per year as a by-product of nickel refining, and has industrial uses as a catalyst and corrosion-resistant anodes in electrochemical processing. It is alloyed to platinum to harden it for use in jewelry, and to titanium to make corrosion-resistant deep-water pipes.