Week 9: Disscussions about Ruthenium and Zinc
Please read, and tell what you like about the essays, what you learned, if you have any questions. Please keep them separate.
The name Ruthenium(Ru) originates from the Latin word for Russia which is where this element was discovered. Ruthenium was discovered by Karl Klaus in 1844 and is a transition metal because it is ductile, malleable, and able to conduct electricity and heat. Ruthenium is a hard, white metal, often prepared in powder form, which is found in North and South America as well as South Africa.
Zinc is the 30th element on the periodic table and has an atomic mass of 65.38. It is a transition metal and has a solid, silver grayish appearance and belongs in group 12, period 4, block d. Its physical properties are it has a melting point at 419 C and a boiling point at 907 C. It can be found in abundance all over the world and makes up about
Week 9
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Week 9
Discussion 1
The essay is very informative on the properties and uses of Ruthenium. I like the explanations beginning with the discovery, why it is named Ruthenium and why it is an important metal to the scientific community. The essay also captures the chemical and physical properties of the mineral as well as the locations of mining. From reading the essay, I have learned that metallic properties such as color determine the use a particular mineral is put to. For example, the bright color, white, of Ruthenium makes it useful in trapping solar energy. In addition, I have learned that catalysts are used to boost the desirable chemical properties of elements that are required in a particular form.
After reading the essay, I have a question. You propose that Ruthenium is a transitional metal because it is ductile, malleable and conducts electricity. Are these properties exclusive to the group of elements called transitional metals?
Discussion 2
I like the essay of Zinc. It is among the most useful metals in the periodic table due to its role in the human body as well as in chemical compounds. The essay captures all these uses and places the use of zinc in a historical concept. The explanations of the uses of zinc, and its relevance to life are very enlightening. In addition, I like the way the element was introduced in the essay. The writer followed the location of the element in the periodic table as well as its origin an...