See Also: ruthenium red(medicine)
ruthenium(medicine)
ruthenium(dictionary)
ruthenium compounds(medicine)
ruthenium radioisotopes(medicine)

ruthenium (iou)



ruthenium noun. M19.
[from medieval Latin Ruthenia Russia (having been first found in ores from the Urals) + -IUM.]
A rare silvery-white metallic chemical element, atomic no. 44, belonging to the platinum group, which is harder and more refractory than platinum and is used as a chemical catalyst, a hardener in alloys, etc. (Symbol Ru.)
Comb.: ruthenium red an intensely coloured red mixed-valence complex salt of ruthenium, used as a microscopic stain.
rutheniate noun = RUTHENATE M19.
ruthenic adjective of, pertaining to, or containing ruthenium, esp. in a state in which it has a valency of three or more M19.
ruthenious adjective of or containing ruthenium in the divalent state M19.