ruthenium
noun
ru·the·ni·um rü-ˈthē-nē-əm 
: a rare hard silvery-white metallic element occurring in platinum ores and used especially as a catalyst and to harden alloys see Chemical Elements Table
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The bridges are ruthenium-coated and satin-finished. 
Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2022 Beyond questions about recyclability, ruthenium—an element used in the molecule—is quite expensive. Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 4 Feb. 2022 In 1992, Grubbs solved the problem by using ruthenium as a catalyst. John Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2021 In 1992, Grubbs improved the process by demonstrating that another metal, ruthenium, was a more stable catalyst and was easily adapted for use in air, water or alcohol. Matt Schudel, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Dec. 2021 But in addition to tritium, more dangerous isotopes with longer radioactive lifetimes, such as ruthenium, cobalt, strontium, and plutonium, sometimes slip through the ALPS process, something TEPCO only acknowledged in 2018. Dennis Normile, Science | AAAS, 13 Apr. 2021 Palladium is about 9% below an all-time high, rhodium reached a record $29,800 an ounce this week and ruthenium has rallied to an almost 13-year high. Eddie Spence, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2021 Traces of ruthenium, cobalt, strontium, and plutonium isotopes in the treated water also raise concerns, says Ken Buesseler, a marine chemist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Dennis Normile, Science | AAAS, 4 Mar. 2021 The Census Bureau’s count for other precious metals includes silver, platinum, palladium and more obscure sources such as ruthenium and iridium. Dian Zhang, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2021 See More
Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2022 Beyond questions about recyclability, ruthenium—an element used in the molecule—is quite expensive. Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 4 Feb. 2022 In 1992, Grubbs solved the problem by using ruthenium as a catalyst. John Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2021 In 1992, Grubbs improved the process by demonstrating that another metal, ruthenium, was a more stable catalyst and was easily adapted for use in air, water or alcohol. Matt Schudel, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Dec. 2021 But in addition to tritium, more dangerous isotopes with longer radioactive lifetimes, such as ruthenium, cobalt, strontium, and plutonium, sometimes slip through the ALPS process, something TEPCO only acknowledged in 2018. Dennis Normile, Science | AAAS, 13 Apr. 2021 Palladium is about 9% below an all-time high, rhodium reached a record $29,800 an ounce this week and ruthenium has rallied to an almost 13-year high. Eddie Spence, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2021 Traces of ruthenium, cobalt, strontium, and plutonium isotopes in the treated water also raise concerns, says Ken Buesseler, a marine chemist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Dennis Normile, Science | AAAS, 4 Mar. 2021 The Census Bureau’s count for other precious metals includes silver, platinum, palladium and more obscure sources such as ruthenium and iridium. Dian Zhang, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Medieval Latin Ruthenia Ruthenia
First Known Use
1829, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
ruthenium
noun
ru·the·ni·um rü-ˈthē-nē-əm
: a hard brittle grayish polyvalent rare metallic element occurring in platinum ores and used in hardening platinum alloys —symbol Ru see Chemical Elements Table