Ruthenium (Ru)

Ruthenium (Ru) is a rare, hard, and silvery-white metallic element belonging to the platinum group metals. It is valued for its resistance to corrosion and high strength, making it useful in electronics, electrical contacts, and as a catalyst in chemical reactions. Ruthenium is often used to improve the durability of platinum and palladium alloys, and it plays a role in the production of certain hard coatings and specialized jewelry. Although it is abundant in the Earth's crust, it is still considered rare and valuable due to the difficulty of extraction and its specialized applications.