What is Rubidium

Rubidium (pronunciation roo-BID-ee-em ^[2]), represented by the chemical symbol (molecular formula) Rb ^{[1, 12]}, is a soft element belonging to the family of alkali metals ^{[1, 2]}. It has 29 isotopes with known half-lives the mass numbers of which range from 74 to 102. The naturally occuring element is a mixture of two isotopes, stable Rb 85 and radioactive Rb 87 ^{[2, 3]} with a half-life of 4.88X10¹⁰ years ^[1]. Rb reacts violently with water and ignites in air ^[1]. If it is cut it initially shows a bright and shiny surface, but if the exposed area is large enough, it burns in the air (oxygen) to produce superoxides ^{[13, 17]}. It also reacts vigorously with halogens like chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine to form rubidium halides ^[13]. In its reactions, it forms cations with the formula Rb⁺ as it has one unpaired electron in its outermost shell ^[25].

Where Is It Found

The metal can be found in the minerals carnallite, pollucite, lepidolite and leucite. Commercially, it is obtained from lepidolite as a by-product of lithium extraction. Potassium minerals and brines are other commercial sources of the element ^[1].

History

Origin of Its Name: Its name is derived from the Latin word “rubidius” meaning deepest red that is the color of its spectral lines ^[1].

Who Discovered It: German chemists Gustav Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen ^{[1, 6]}.

When Was Rubidium Discovered: Its discovery year is 1861 ^[1].

How Was It Discovered

After the discovery of lepidolite in the 1760s, it was found to behave oddly. It seemed to contain something other than the known components lithium and potassium since it frothed when thrown on glowing coal and finally hardened like glass. In 1861, Kirchhoff and Bunsen of the University of Heidelberg, Germany, dissolved the ore in acid and precipitated the potassium it contained along with the suspected heavier alkali metal constituent. They carefully washed the precipitate in boiling water to remove the more soluble potassium and studied the atomic spectrum of what they were left with. They observed two lines of intense ruby red color that had never been seen before and confirmed the discovery of a new element, that they named rubidium ^[1].

Rubidium Identification
Atomic Number	37 [1]
CAS Number	7440-17-7 [1]
Position in the periodic table	Group	Period	Block
	1 [1]	5 [1]	s [1]

Properties and Characteristics of Rubidium

General Properties
Atomic mass	85.468 atomic mass units [1]
Atomic weight	85.468 [1]
Molar mass/Molecular weight	85.47 g mol-1 [26]
Physical Properties
Color/appearance	Silvery-white [3]
Melting point/freezing point	39.30°C, 102.74°F [1]
Boiling point	688°C, 1270°F [1]
Density	1.53 g cm-3 [1]
State of matter at room temperature (normal phase)	Solid [1]
Chemical Properties
Flammability	Yes [1]
Oxidation state/Oxidation number	-1, +1 [2]
Reduction potential	2.925 Volts [28]

Atomic Data of Rubidium (Element 37)

Rubidium Uses

1. Industrially, it is commonly used in photocells, vapor reference cells (with quartz), lasers, to make special types of glass and as a getter to remove trace gases from vacuum tubes ^{[1, 3]}.
2. Easy ionization has led to its application in ion engines, though it was found to be less effective than cesium ^[1].
3. Sometimes, rubidium nitrate is used in fireworks to produce a purple color ^[1]. Another compound, rubidium carbonate, is used to make optical glasses ^[24].
4. High accuracy rubidium atomic clocks, oscillators or frequency standards use rubidium 87 discharge lamps in controlling the output frequency ^[7]. They are used in time distribution services to control telecommunications infrastructure, GPS, TV broadcasts, etc. in everyday life ^[8]. They are superior to quartz oscillators due to their long-term stability ^[27]
5. Generator produced Rb 82 (belonging to the group of medicines, radiopharmaceuticals ^[32]) is used in Positron Emission Tomographic (PET) scans or cardiac stress tests to evaluate the flow of blood to the heart muscles ^[9].
6. Rubidium-strontium dating is a technique used by scientists in estimating the age of rocks, meteorites and It is done by studying the amount of Rb 87 and strontium isotopes present in the materials ^[16].
7. As a dietary supplement for certain health benefits like fighting depression, promoting cardiovascular wellness ^{[18, 19]}.
8. Rubidium and cesium ions act as electrolytic additives for sodium ion batteries ^[21].

Is It Dangerous

Rubidium is known to be non-toxic ^{[1, 22]}.

Interesting Facts

• The ionization energy of rubidium is lower than that of iodine and fluorine. It is because the effective nuclear charge of Rb is much lower than that of the other two elements making it easier to remove an electron from its atom ^[10].
• The flame test of the metal produces a beautiful red-violet colored flame ^[11].
• Rubidium atoms were used to create a synthetic magnetic monopole and study its behavior by the researchers at the Aalto University in Finland and Amherst College in Massachusetts in 2014 ^{[14, 15]}.
• It is a trace element that is needed in small amounts by our body for proper thyroid function, etc ^{[29, 30]}. Its deficiency has been found to lower life expectancy and growth rate in goats ^[22].
• Washington State University physicists cooled rubidium atoms to a temperature very close to absolute zero to form the famed Bose-Einstein condensate, a state of matter in which, according to the quantum theory, particles start behaving as waves ^[31].

Rubidium (Rb Element) Cost

The pure metal is priced at $12 per gram. That means, it costs around $340 per ounce ^[3].

References
1. http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/37/rubidium
2. https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele037.html
3. https://www.chemicool.com/elements/rubidium.html
4. http://chemistry-reference.com/q_elements.asp?Symbol=Rb&language=en
5. http://periodictable.com/Properties/A/Valence.al.html
6. https://www.livescience.com/34519-rubidium.html
7. http://www.accubeat.com/rubidium-atomic-clock-technology/
8. https://www.iqdfrequencyproducts.com/products/rubidium-oscillators/
9. https://www.parkwayhealthradiology.com.sg/docs/librariesprovider8/brochures-2020/rubidium-82-cardiac-pet.pdf?sfvrsn=cf93e813_2
10. https://quizlet.com/173675374/chemistry-chapter-7-flash-cards/
11. https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Inorganic_Chemistry/Descriptive_Chemistry/Elements_Organized_by_Block/1_s-Block_Elements/Group__1%3A_The_Alkali_Metals/2Reactions_of_the_Group_1_Elements/Flame_Tests
12. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/rubidium
13. https://www.webelements.com/rubidium/chemistry.html
14. https://www.nature.com/news/quantum-cloud-simulates-magnetic-monopole-1.14612
15. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2548880/Scientists-create-ONE-poled-magnet-unlock-secrets-surrounding-birth-universe.html
16. https://www.britannica.com/science/rubidium-strontium-dating
17. https://www.britannica.com/science/rubidium
18. https://www.pureformulas.com/rbzyme-100-tablets-by-biotics-research.html
19. https://www.essense-of-life.com/healthtopics/A-221/rubidium.html
20. https://www.webelements.com/rubidium/crystal_structure.html
21. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248117302254
22. https://www.life-enthusiast.com/articles/symptoms-of-mineral-deficiencies
23. http://periodictable.com/Properties/A/ElectronAffinity.v.log.html
24. http://www.elementsdatabase.com/Rubidium-Rb-37-element/
25. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/rubidium_cation
26. https://www.gordonengland.co.uk/elements/rb.htm
27. https://www.endruntechnologies.com/frequency-standard-oscillators.htm
28. http://chemwiki.wikidot.com/standard-electrode-potentials
29. http://www.drdebe.com/articles/reviving-your-thyroid
30. http://www.fitnessarts.org/should-you-take-rubidium-learn-more-if-you-are-affected-by-cognitive-problems-chronic-fatigue-thyroidadrenal-problems-miscarriages-depression-or-tumors/
31. https://news.wsu.edu/2017/04/10/negative-mass-created-at-wsu/
32. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0012058/?report=details