Ruthenium, with the chemical symbol Ru, was discovered in 1844 by Russian chemists Karl Klaus and Gottfried Osann. It belongs to the platinum group and is often extracted alongside platinum. Ruthenium is relatively rare on Earth, with an abundance of about 0.001 ppm in the Earth's crust.

Ruthenium finds applications across various fields. It is frequently used as a catalyst in chemical reactions, particularly in organic synthesis. Due to its resistance to corrosion and oxidation, Ruthenium is employed in electronic components, such as in the semiconductor industry.

Future applications could focus on renewable energies and environmental technologies. Researchers are exploring the use of Ruthenium compounds in hydrogen production through electrolysis and fuel cell technology.