Ruthenium is a silvery-white noble metal with a melting point of 2334 degrees Celsius. It is usually found alongside other platinum metals. It is pretty corrosion resistant. It is a rare metal. It has oxidation states ranging from +1 to +8 and -2. It was identified in 1844 by the German chemist Gottfried Osann. It was named after Ruthenia.

Ruthenium is used in alloys to make them harder and more durable. It is widely used in electronics.