PGM concentrate is dissolved in aqua regia; base metals are precipitated out, and Ru is oxidized to the volatile tetroxide RuO4 and distilled off, then reduced with hydrogen back to metal powder.
Research Elements Ru · atomic number 44 Transition metal · period 5, group 8 [Kr] 4d7 5s1 Shells: 2, 8, 18, 15, 1 Valence electrons: 1 in the outer shell (5s1), and 7 in 4d7 Green dots are the outer shell's s and p electrons. Softer green dots are the d electrons of transition metals, and the d and f electrons of lanthanides and actinides: they often take part in bonding, but not always. Grey dots are the core. Ground-state configuration from the NIST Atomic Spectra Database (A. Kramida, Yu. Ralchenko, J. Reader and the NIST ASD Team). Abundance is the mole fraction of the element found as that isotope on Earth; digits in parentheses are the uncertainty in the last digits. Masses and abundances from NIST, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (J. S. Coursey, D. J. Schwab, J. J. Tsai and R. A. Dragoset, National Institute of Standards and Technology).Ruthenium
Electrons
How it's obtained
Natural isotopes
Isotope Relative atomic mass Abundance 96Ru 95.90759025(49) 0.0554(14) 98Ru 97.9052868(69) 0.0187(3) 99Ru 98.9059341(11) 0.1276(14) 100Ru 99.9042143(11) 0.1260(7) 101Ru 100.9055769(12) 0.1706(2) 102Ru 101.9043441(12) 0.3155(14) 104Ru 103.9054275(28) 0.1862(27)