ruthenium Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a rare polyvalent metallic element of the platinum group; it is found associated with platinum
    Ru; atomic number 44.

WordNet

Ru*the"ni*um noun
Etymology
NL. So named from the Ruthenians, a Little Russian people, as coming from Russia, the metal having been found in the Ural mountains.
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) A rare element of the light platinum group, found associated with platinum ores, and isolated as a hard, brittle steel-gray metal which is very infusible. Symbol Ru. Atomic weight 103.5. Specific gravity 12.26. See Platinum metals, under Platinum.

Webster 1913