Ruthenium vs. Rhodium — What's the Difference?

Ruthenium is a chemical element with the symbol Ru and atomic number 44. It is a rare transition metal belonging to the platinum group of the periodic table.

Rhodium is a chemical element with the symbol Rh and atomic number 45. It is an extraordinarily rare, silvery-white, hard, corrosion-resistant, and chemically inert transition metal.

A hard silver-white acid-resistant metallic element that is found in platinum ores and is used to harden platinum and palladium for jewelry and in alloys for nonmagnetic wear-resistant instrument pivots and electrical contacts. Atomic number 44; atomic weight 101.07; melting point 2,334°C; boiling point 4,150°C; specific gravity 12.1 (20°C); valence 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. See Periodic Table.

A hard, durable, silvery-white metallic element that is used to form high-temperature alloys with platinum and is plated on other metals to produce a durable corrosion-resistant coating. Atomic number 45; atomic weight 102.905; melting point 1,964°C; boiling point 3,695°C; specific gravity 12.41 (20°C); valence 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. See Periodic Table.

A metallic chemical element (symbol Ru) with an atomic number of 44.

A rare, hard, silvery-white, inert metallic chemical element (symbol Rh) with an atomic number of 45.

(countable) An atom of this element.

(countable) A single atom of this element.

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.

A rare element of the light platinum group. It is found in platinum ores, and obtained free as a white inert metal which it is very difficult to fuse. Symbol Rh. Atomic weight 104.1. Specific gravity 12.

A rare polyvalent metallic element of the platinum group; it is found associated with platinum

A white hard metallic element that is one of the platinum group and is found in platinum ores; used in alloys with platinum