Ruthenium: the Russian metal named after Russia

In the periodic table of D. I. Mendeleev, there is an element with atomic number 44, which has a sonorous name — ruthenium. This is not just a platinum group metal, but the only chemical element named after Russia (Ruthenia — the Latin name for Russia). It was discovered in 1844 by Professor Karl Karlovich Klauz 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 did the element receive the name "ruthenium"?

The name of the element comes from the Latin word Ruthenia, which means "Russia" or "Rus". Karl Klauz, the discoverer of ruthenium, emphasized that he gives the name in honor of his homeland. This was a gesture of a patriot of German descent who linked 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 the Mendeleev 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 earlier than the great chemist formulated his law.