Quick answerRuthenium (Ru) is a transition metal with atomic number 44 and an atomic mass of 101.07 (2023), in group 8, period 5. It was discovered by Karl Ernst Claus in 1844. It is used for electrical contacts and solar cells. Its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d7 5s1.
Ruthenium is a rare platinum-group metal that hardens electrical contacts, colours solar cells, and catalyses chemical reactions.
Key facts
| Symbol | Ru |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 44 |
| Atomic mass | 101.07 (IUPAC standard atomic weight, 2023) |
| Category | transition metal |
| Group | 8 |
| Period | 5 |
| Block | d-block |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d7 5s1 |
| Discovered | Karl Ernst Claus, 1844 |
| Uses | electrical contacts, solar cells, catalysts, hard disk drives, jewellery alloys |
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Keep exploring
- Periodic table — all 118 elements
- Zinc (Zn) — another transition metal, atomic number 30
- Yttrium (Y) — another transition metal, atomic number 39
- Zirconium (Zr) — another transition metal, atomic number 40
- Niobium (Nb) — another transition metal, atomic number 41
- Molybdenum (Mo) — another transition metal, atomic number 42
- Technetium (Tc) — another transition metal, atomic number 43
- Rhodium (Rh) — another transition metal, atomic number 45
- Palladium (Pd) — another transition metal, atomic number 46
- Silver (Ag) — another transition metal, atomic number 47
- Cadmium (Cd) — another transition metal, atomic number 48
- All transition metal elements — on the periodic table
Sources & last updated
- CIAAW — Standard Atomic Weights
- PubChem Periodic Table
- Wikipedia — Timeline of chemical element discoveries
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.