Is ruthenium a metal?

Yes. Ruthenium is a metal, classified as a transition metal on the periodic table.

How many protons does ruthenium have?

Ruthenium has 44 protons. Its atomic number is 44, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of ruthenium.

What group and period is ruthenium in?

Ruthenium is in group 8 and period 5 of the periodic table, in the d-block.

What is the atomic mass of ruthenium?

The atomic mass of ruthenium is 101.07 u (unified atomic mass units).

Element 44

Ruthenium (Ru)

Transition metal · Period 5 · Group 8 · d-block

Ruthenium (Ru) is element 44 of the periodic table, a transition metal in period 5, group 8 (d-block) with an atomic mass of 101.07 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number: 44
Symbol: Ru
Atomic mass: 101.07 u
Category: Transition metals
Period: 5
Group: 8
Block: d-block
Phase at STP: solid

Electron structure

Electron configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d7 5s1
Shorthand configuration: [Kr] 4d7 5s1
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 15, 1
Oxidation states: -4, -2, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7, +8

Physical properties

Melting point: 2,607 K (2,333.85 °C)
Boiling point: 4,423 K (4,149.85 °C)
Density: 12.37 g/cm³
Phase: solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling): 2.2
Atomic radius: 178 pm
Covalent radius: 146 pm
First ionization energy: 710 kJ/mol
Electron affinity: 101 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

Notable isotopes of Ruthenium: mass number, atomic mass, natural abundance, and stability.
Isotope	Mass	Abundance	Stability
Ru-102	101.90434	31.55%	Stable

Common uses

Electronics
Catalysts
Solar cells
Jewelry

Discovery

Year: 1844
Discovered by: Karl Ernst Claus
Country: Russia

Frequently asked questions

Is ruthenium a metal?: Yes. Ruthenium is a metal, classified as a transition metal on the periodic table.
How many protons does ruthenium have?: Ruthenium has 44 protons. Its atomic number is 44, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of ruthenium.
What group and period is ruthenium in?: Ruthenium is in group 8 and period 5 of the periodic table, in the d-block.
What is the atomic mass of ruthenium?: The atomic mass of ruthenium is 101.07 u (unified atomic mass units).

Keep exploring

Ruthenium's row is on the printable element property sheet, and its tile is on the periodic table wall chart - the same numbers as above, laid out for A4 or A3 paper.