Rubidium
Rubidium, Rb, is a soft silvery white metallic element which belong to
Group Ia of the periodic table.
- Atomic Number : 37
- Relative Atomic Mass : 85
- Melting Point : 38 degC
- Boiling Point : 688 degC
- Relative Density : 1.5
Rubidium consists of two isotopes. Seventeen other isotopes are known.
Discovery
Rubidium was discovered by Bunsen and Kirchoff in 1861AD.
Occurrence
Rubidium occurs in
- Pollucite,
- Carnallite,
- Leucite, and
- Zinnwaldite.
Extraction
Preparation
Rubidium is prepared by the reducing rubidium chloride with calcium.
Manufacture
Properties
Rubidium is
- a soft silvery liquid metal at room temperature,
- is mildly radioactive,
- the second most electropositive metal and is very reactive, and
- ignites spontaneously in air.
Reactions
Rubidium resembles sodium in its chemical properties.
Uses
Rubidium is used
- as a getter in vacuum tubes, and
- in photocells.
Start of Hypertext ....
Elements ....
Compounds ....
Index
Hypertext Copyright (c) 2000 Donal O'Leary. All Rights Reserved.