Rubidium facts for kids
Rubidium is a special chemical element found on the periodic table. It's number 37 and its symbol is Rb. It has 37 protons and 37 electrons. Rubidium is a soft, shiny, silver-colored metal. Two scientists, Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff, first found it in 1861 in Heidelberg, Germany.
Contents
What are Rubidium's Properties?
Physical Characteristics
Rubidium melts very easily. It can even melt if you hold it in your hand! This is because it has a very low melting temperature. Rubidium is part of a group of elements called alkali metals. It can also mix with mercury to form a special mixture called an amalgam.
Chemical Reactions
Rubidium is super reactive. This means it quickly reacts with other things. For example, it will catch fire in the air because it reacts with gases like oxygen and nitrogen.
Rubidium reacts very strongly with water. When it touches water, it creates hydrogen gas and rubidium hydroxide. Rubidium hydroxide is a very strong and dangerous base that can burn things. The reaction with water also gets very hot, so the hydrogen gas often catches fire.
Rubidium Compounds
Rubidium usually forms chemical compounds where it has a +1 oxidation state. This means it tends to lose one electron when it joins with other elements.
The most common rubidium compound is Rubidium chloride. Other common compounds include Rubidium hydroxide and rubidium carbonate. When rubidium compounds are heated in a flame, they make a pretty red-violet color. Most rubidium compounds are clear or colorless. They are not as common as compounds made from other alkali metals, like sodium.
Here are a few examples of rubidium compounds:
- Rubidium chloride: This is similar to table salt.
- Rubidium hydride: This is a strong reducing agent, which means it helps other chemicals gain electrons.
- Rubidium hydroxide: This is a very powerful base.
- Rubidium nitrate: This is a strong oxidizing agent, meaning it helps other chemicals lose electrons.
- Rubidium oxide: This is a yellow compound that becomes a strong base when mixed with water.
Where is Rubidium Found and How is it Made?
Rubidium is about as common as zinc in the Earth's crust. It's the 23rd most common element. You usually find small amounts of rubidium mixed in with other minerals. It's not often found by itself.
To get pure rubidium, scientists use a process called reduction. They take rubidium ores (rocks containing rubidium) and react them with calcium. Making rubidium is expensive because calcium is hard to produce. Also, the rubidium needs to be kept safe in a gas like argon, away from air or water, because it's so reactive.
What is Rubidium Used For?
Rubidium doesn't have many everyday uses. Sometimes, rubidium compounds are used to make purple colors in fireworks. Mostly, rubidium and its compounds are used in science for research. It's also used to create special ions called superoxide ions. You might also find it in some special types of glass.
Is Rubidium Safe?
Rubidium compounds are not very harmful to the human body in small amounts. However, if someone gets too much from eating, they could get sick. This is because rubidium acts like other alkali metal ions, such as sodium ions found in table salt. Interestingly, rats can live even if half of their potassium is replaced with rubidium, though this is not likely to happen in real life.
The element rubidium itself is very dangerous. It reacts strongly with air and water, creating substances that can burn or corrode. Always be careful around it!
Images for kids
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Partially molten rubidium metal in an ampoule
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Rubidium crystals (silvery) compared to caesium crystals (golden)
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Rb9O2 cluster
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Flame test for rubidium
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Gustav Kirchhoff (left) and Robert Bunsen (center) discovered rubidium by spectroscopy. (Henry Enfield Roscoe is on the right side.)
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A rubidium fountain atomic clock at the United States Naval Observatory
See also
In Spanish: Rubidio para niños
