Rubidium

Located at Group 1 and Period 5 of the Periodic Table is the element used in fireworks, mainly to make purple color fireworks. This is Rubidium.

Gustav Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen

First discovered by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff in 1861 and first isolated in 1863 by Robert Bunsen.

They discovered Rubidium by dissolving an ore containing Rubidium in acid and then precipitated the potassium it contained which after that carried down another heavier alkali metal.While they were washing the precipitate with boiling water, they removed the more soluble potassium component.

After removing the more soluble Potassium component, they examined the atomic spectrum of what element that remained. Finally, they proved that the Spectrum Color showed that two intense ruby red lines that neither other scientist nor them had ever seen before. This is a prove of discovering a new element.

After that, they named Rubidium based on its newly discovered red color Spectrum Line Rubidus.

Spectrum Colors of Solar, Potassium, Rubidium and Cesium

Rubidium was originally thought to be very rare. But after some researches, it was proven that Rubidium is not actually that rare, it contains approximately 3.45 parts per million, which is the 22nd most abundant element in the universe.

Rubidium can be isolated using a method called electrolysis with molten Rubidium Chloride.

Rubidium salts are mainly used in Purple Color fireworks, perhaps because of the explosion it could cause when contact with oxygen. And therefore, Rubidium is stored FULLY SUBMERGED in Kerosene.

Rubidium explodes in contact with Water

Rubidium is also found in many foods such as Garden Tomatoes, sweet oranges, black walnut as well as coconut. But don't worry, just because Rubidium are in these foods doesn't necessarily mean that you are going to explode like a firework. It's actually clinically proven that once Rubidium is in our body, our sweat or urine will actually excrete Rubidium. So, you need not need to worry about your body exploding.

Sweet Oranges

Garden Tomato

Although Rubidium doesn't have any known health effects, it is still considered toxic to most chemist and therefore they handle Rubidium carefully.

However, it was still best advised not to eat Rubidium too much because we will get sick, but it will never cause death.

Atomic Number : 37

Name : Rubidium

Latin Name : Ribidus

Electrons per shell : [ 2, 8, 18, 8, 1 ]

Discoverer : Gustav Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen ( 1861 )

Isolator : Robert Bunsen ( 1863 )

Element's : Atomic Mass : 85.468

: Density : 1.532 g/cm3

: Type : Alkali Metals

Chemical Properties :

• One of the most electropositive and alkaline elements
• Burns through air ( Kept in Kerosene fully submerged to prevent explosions )
• Reacts violently with water and even ice at -100 degrees Celsius.
• Sets fire to the liberated hydrogen
• Forms amalgams with Mercury
• Alloys with Gold, Cesium, Sodium and Potassium.
• 45 isotopes : 3 of them are : Rubidium - 85 : Protons : 37 : Neutrons : 48

  

  Rubidium - 85

  : Electrons : 37 ( Half Life : Stable ) Rubidium - 86 : Protons : 37 : Neutrons : 49 : Electrons : 37 ( Half Life : 18.7 days ) Rubidium - 87 : Protons : 37 : Neutrons : 50 : Electrons : 37 ( Half Life : 49.2 Billion years )

Physical Properties :

• Soft
• Silvery - colored
• Very Explosive when contact with water or oxygen
• Melting Point : 39 degrees Celsius ( 102 Fahrenheit )
• Boiling Point : 688 degrees Celsius ( 1270 Fahrenheit )

  

  Explosive Hazard Symbol

How Rubidium got its name?

Rubidium got its name from the Latin name Rubidius, meaning deepest red, which is its Color Spectrum's when - discovery color.

Uses

Rubidium is used as a component of photocells. Rubidium is also used to remove traces of gases from vacuum tubes and also to make special types of glass. Rubidium salt is used as a purple coloring in fireworks, too.

Purple Fireworks 

THIS IS THE END OF RUBIDIUM
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