ruthenium red
noun
A compound with an intense red colour obtained by air oxidation of a solution containing ammonia and ruthenium (iii) chloride, and used as a microscopic stain.
- Ruthenium red is a mixed-valence complex salt; [(NH3)5Ru iiiORu iv(NH3)4ORu iii(NH3)5]Cl6..
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Nature: a weekly journal of science. After French rouge de ruthénium.