A series of binuclear complexes of general formula L(m)Ru-BL-RuL’(n+)(m) where L and L’ are monodentate or bidentate ligands bound to one metal center and BL is a bridging ligand are analyzed with the recently reported unified solvation model (USM). The solvent dependence of Delta E(1/2) and E(IT) data are analyzed for cases where L is the same as L’ and where L and L’ differ. Data for the change in E(1/2) and E(IT) as the Lewis base, B, is varied in (bpy)(2)ClRupyz Ru(NH3)(4)B (where bpy is 2,2’-bipyridine and pyz is pyrazine) are also correlated. The USM provides the relative contributions of specific and nonspecific solvation to the solvent dependence of the physicochemical property. The factoring of the solvent dependence permits the construction of potential energy surfaces providing unprecedented detail concerning the influence of solvent donor-acceptor and solvation contributions to these measurements. The ability of USM to correlate Franck-Condon energies and the failure of donor numbers (DN) to do so emphasizes the need for a dual parameter treatment of the specific interaction. In contrast to nonsymmetrical binuclear complexes, the solvent dependence of the E(IT) bands for symmetrical complexes is not correlated by solvent donor and polarity parameters but is fit to the dielectric constants and refractive indices of the Marcus-Hush dielectric continuum model. A rationale for this disparate behavior of symmetrical and unsymmetrical binuclear complexes is given.