RUBIDIUM

 

  

 

 

rubidium isnt a liquid or a gas but it does have an atomic mass of 85.468, its an alkaline metal isnt that great.

 

 

 

 

The history of the wonderful element called rubidium is, it was discovered in 1861 by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchoff. Rubidium is named after the Greek word “rubidus” – dark red because of its bright red spectroscopic lines.

Rubidium can be used for many things such as ion engines although cesium is somewhat more efficient. It has also been suggested to be used as a working fluid for vapor turbines and for use a thermoelectric generator. It is also used as a getter in vacuum tubes and as a photocell component. Rubidium has also been used for holoday such as fourth of july as shown at right.

            Rubidium is a metal with an atomic number of 37 and an atomic weight of 85.4678. Its melting point is 39.3 C and a boiling point of 688 C. Rubidium can be a liquid at room temperature. It is soft silvery white metallic element and it belongs to the alkali metals group. Rubidium is also the second most electropositive element. Rubidium ignites in air and is highly reactive to water. Rubidium when on fire is a yellowish violet.

Rubidium ignites in air and is highly reactive to water. Rubidium and other alkaline metals react by loosing one electron. Rubidium is also the second most electropositive element. This amazing element has to be kept in kerosene so it doesn’t EXPLODE!

Rubidium is one of the most important elements in my mind because it helps make fireworks purple for important holidays such as new years and Fourth of July. It also helps scientists get into space because it is used for an ion engine.

  

 
Located in the first group on the periodic table rubidium, rubidium is never found uncombined in nature because it is too reactive, infact rubidium is in the most reactive group. Scientists have found out how to isolate them thank god.

 

Table
Atomic Number
37
color
silverish white
Atomic Mass
85.468
reactions in air and water
highly reactive in water and ignites in air

 

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Glossary
 

 

Ignite

to set on fire; kindle.
Kerosene

a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons obtained by distilling petroleum, bituminous shale, or the like, and widely used as a fuel, cleaning solvent, etc.
Metallic

pertaining to, or consisting of metal.
Electropositive containing positive electricity; tending to migrate to the negative pole in electrolysis.
photo cell A solid-state device that converts light into electrical energy by producing a voltage, as in a photovoltaic cell, or uses light to regulate the flow of current, as in a photoconductive cell: used in automatic control systems for doors, lighting
spectroscopic an optical device for producing and observing a spectrum of light or radiation from any source, consisting essentially of a slit through which the radiation passes, a collimating lens, and an Amici prism.

 

  

 

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