* 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 gm/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.
