44
Room of the Elements · No. 44
Ruthenium (Ru): what kind of element is it?
日本語
In short
Ruthenium is element number 44, a metal with the symbol Ru. Its name comes from Ruthenia, an old name for Russia.
Atomic number 44101.1
RuRutheniumルテニウム (ruteniumu)- Symbol
- Ru
- Atomic weight
- 101.1
- Place in the table
- Period 5 · Group 8
Atomic weight from the Chemical Society of Japan, “Table of Standard Atomic Weights with Four Significant Figures (2026)”.
An old name for Russia
The symbol Ru comes from the old Latin name for Russia, Ruthenia. Ruthenium was discovered in 1845.
Mendeleev, who created the periodic table, was also a Russian chemist.
Where it sits on the table
Ruthenium is in the fifth row of Group 8. Directly above it is iron, and directly below it is osmium.
Think about it
- Q1How many elements named after countries can you find?
- Q2Why might an old name be used?
- Q3What might ruthenium be like, sharing a column with iron?
There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.
Did you know? — Elements named after countries or regions include ruthenium (Russia), gallium (France), germanium (Germany) and polonium (Poland).