Ruthenium(III) chloride hydrate
CAS 14898-67-0
RuCl₃ hydrate is the universal entry point into ruthenium chemistry — the precursor to metathesis and transfer-hydrogenation catalysts, DSA® -type electrode coatings for the chlor-alkali industry, and RuO₂ materials for supercapacitors and resistors.
Typical specification
| Molecular formula | RuCl₃ · xH₂O |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 207.43 (anhydrous basis) |
| Purity (metals basis) | ≥ 99.9% |
| Ruthenium content | 38 – 42% (certified per lot) |
| Appearance | Dark brown to black crystals |
| Insolubles in water | ≤ 0.1% |
| Base metals (Fe, Cu, Ni) | ≤ 100 ppm total, ICP per lot |
| Available forms | Crystals or aqueous/HCl solution at specified Ru g/L |
| HS code (export) | 2843900099 |
Lot-specific COA issued with every shipment. SDS and ICP elemental impurity data available on request.
Where RuCl₃·xH₂O is used
Catalyst synthesis
The starting material for virtually all ruthenium catalysts: Grubbs-type metathesis precursors, RuPhos-ligated and (arene)Ru transfer-hydrogenation complexes, and Ru/C for selective hydrogenations.
Dimensionally stable anode (DSA) coatings
RuCl₃-based coating solutions form the RuO₂–TiO₂ electrocatalytic layer on titanium anodes for chlor-alkali and chlorate electrolysis — the largest industrial consumer of ruthenium chemistry.
Electronic and energy materials
Thermal decomposition to RuO₂ feeds thick-film resistor pastes and supercapacitor electrode research, where hydrous ruthenium oxide's pseudocapacitance remains the benchmark.
Storage and shipping
Storage. Store tightly sealed and dry; strongly hygroscopic. Solutions slowly hydrolyze — prepare fresh or stabilize in dilute HCl.
Shipping. Shipped in sealed fluorinated bottles with SDS; corrosive classification applies to some pack sizes and solution grades.
Packaging. 5 g · 25 g · 100 g · 500 g · Solution grades by contained Ru weight
Synonyms
- Ruthenium trichloride hydrate
- RuCl3 hydrate
- Ruthenium chloride
- Ruthenium(III) chloride trihydrate (commercial hydrate)
Frequently asked questions
Why is Ru content quoted as a range?
Commercial RuCl₃ is a variable hydrate, so contained ruthenium runs 38–42% between lots. Every lot ships with an assayed Ru content on the COA, and pricing is settled on that assayed figure — you pay for metal, not water.
How does pricing work?
Contained ruthenium at the day's Ru price plus a conversion charge. Ruthenium's low price per ounce relative to Pt and Pd makes RuCl₃ the most economical PGM precursor for many electrode and catalyst applications.
Do you supply coating-grade solutions for anode manufacture?
Yes — RuCl₃ in HCl or n-butanol systems at customer-specified concentration for DSA coating lines, with lot-to-lot Ru assay consistency documented.
Can spent anode coatings or Ru residues be returned?
Yes — decommissioned anodes, coating residues and catalyst waste are assayed and the recovered ruthenium credited against new supply.