Rubidium is a soft, silvery-white metal with atomic number 37. It is reactive and used in various industries, laboratories, and household goods. Rubidium is abundant in the earth’s crust and is moderately expensive. It is used in metal alloys, glass, ceramics, and fireworks. Rubidium must be handled with care and stored under vacuum or in mineral oil. It is not toxic but can be harmful in large quantities, and eye and face protection must be worn when working with it.
Rubidium is a metallic element located in the alkali group of the periodic table of elements. It is used in a variety of industries as well as in laboratories for a variety of experiments. The element also has a number of radioactive isotopes that are used in research and dating of ancient fossils. Rubidium is quite reactive, making it somewhat difficult to handle as it can be unstable in oxygen-rich environments. People can interact with it in the form of a component in a variety of household goods.
In appearance, rubidium is soft and silvery white. When burned, it emits a rich red to brown flame; this property is mentioned in the name of the element, which derives from rubius, or “deeper red” in Latin. When exposed to oxygen, it will spontaneously ignite, and the element also reacts violently in water. In air, it tarnishes rapidly as it oxidizes. The element has atomic number 37 and is identified as Rb on the periodic table.
The discovery of rubidium is attributed to Robert Wilhelm Bunsen and Gustav Robert Kirchhoff, who observed it in the form of a mineral compound in 1861 with the aid of a spectroscope. This element is abundant in the earth’s crust, usually in compounds with minerals such as lepidolite, leucite and pollocite. These ores must be processed to extract their rubidium reserves for commercial use, making the element moderately expensive.
Some metal alloys include rubidium and the element is also used in the production of glass and ceramics. Purple fireworks often get their color from this metal and can also be found in electron tubes, atomic clocks and photocells. Isotopes and other forms can be used in laboratory experiments; its vapor, for example, is used in laser cooling.
Because this item is so reactive, it must be handled with care. It should be stored under vacuum or in mineral oil and should be handled in a non-reactive atmosphere with the use of buffer gas. People who handle pure metal are usually thoroughly trained in its use, and ordinary people are not normally exposed to it. Although rubidium does not appear toxic, it has no biological function and can be harmful in large quantities, so people should avoid ingesting it. Eye and face protection must also be worn when working with this item.
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