Ruthenium(II) chloride

Ruthenium(II) chloride is an inorganic compound, a metal salt of ruthenium and hydrochloric acid with the formula.

Synthesis

 * Reaction of chlorine and ruthenium at 250 °C:


 * Ru + Cl2 -> RuCl2


 * Reaction of ruthenium trichloride with hydrogen in ethanol in presence of platinum black and hydrogen chloride:


 * 2RuCl3 + H2 -> 2RuCl2 + 2HCl

Physical properties
Ruthenium(II) chloride forms brown crystals.

Ruthenium(II) chloride is poorly soluble in cold water, but is soluble in ethanol.

Chemical properties
Ruthenium(II) chloride can form complexes with aromatic hydrocarbons.

The compound can be reduced to elemental ruthenium by hydrogen.