Page 82 - The Periodic Table Book
P. 82
44
Ru Ruthenium
Discovery: 1844
44 44 57 State: Solid
Forms
Pure ruthenium refined in a laboratory
These crystals have
a bright, silver colour.
Pentlandite
This yellow-brown
mineral is often found
deep underground.
Toggle switch
Uses
This
component
contains
ruthenium
dioxide.
The metal alloy in the SwissTech Convention
switch is toughened by These low-cost solar panels
Electronic circuit board adding ruthenium. are made using ruthenium. Centre, Switzerland
Ruthenium is named after Ruthenia, an circuits, including resistors and microchips for
old Latin name for Russia. This rare metal computers and other digital devices. Adding a
is found in the mineral pentlandite, and its small amount of ruthenium makes softer metals,
pure form is commonly extracted from this such as platinum and palladium, much tougher.
ore. A compound called ruthenium dioxide Moving parts in devices such as switches
80 is used in several components in electronic benefit from this property.
080-081_Ruthenium_Rhodium.indd 80 12/12/16 5:38 pm
