Ruthenium(II) chloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It forms a deep blue solution.
Ruthenium(II) chloride can be prepared by reacting ruthenium metal with dry chlorine at 250 ðC:
It can also be prepared by treating a ruthenium trichloride solution with hydrogen in the presence of platinum black:
Ruthenium(II) chloride forms complexes with aromatic hydrocarbons.
The compound can be reduced to elemental ruthenium by hydrogen.