Ruthenium: A Russian Metal Named After Rus

There is an element with atomic number 44 in the periodic table of D. I. Mendeleev, which has a sonorous name — ruthenium. It is not just a platinum group metal but the only chemical element named after Russia (Ruthenia — the Latin name for Rus). It was discovered in 1844 by Professor Karl Karlovich Klaus of Kazan University and has since firmly entered the history of science and technology. Today, ruthenium is one of the most refractory, hardest, and corrosion-resistant materials, indispensable in electronics, catalysis, and even in the space industry.

Why was the element named "ruthenium"?

The name of the element comes from the Latin word Ruthenia, meaning "Russia" or "Rus." Karl Klaus, the discoverer of ruthenium, emphasized that he named it in honor of his homeland. This was a gesture of patriotism from a German by birth, who had connected his life with Russia and wanted to immortalize its name in the periodic table.

Why does it have such an atomic number?

The atomic number of the element in Mendeleev's table (44) is determined by the number of protons in the nucleus of its atom. This number uniquely identifies ruthenium as a chemical element. In the periodic table, it is located in the VIIIB group, in the 5th period, and belongs to the so-called ruthenium-rhodium-palladium triad — a group of metals similar in chemical properties. Mendeleev predicted the existence of this element, leaving an empty cell for it, but its physical discovery occurred before the great chemist formulated his law.