What are the features of the element rubidium?

            Rubidium is a metal which is the 23rd most abundant element found in the crust of the earth. It is silvery-white in colour, and very soft. The element is highly reactive and reacts quickly with air. In nature, there are several minerals which contain up to one per cent of the oxide of rubidium.

            Although rubidium is not a rare metal, it does not have a lot of industrial or commercial uses. Therefore mining of rubidium is fairly limited. It is used mainly for powering atomic clocks in global navigation satellite systems. Sometimes, rubidium is also used in the production of purple colour in fireworks. However, it is mostly used for research.

           Rubidium was discovered by the German chemists Gustav Robert Kirchhoff and Robert Wilhelm Bunsen in 1861. Most often, the element is extracted as a byproduct during the production of potassium or caesium.

            About 0.36 grams of rubidium can be found in the body of an average-sized human. The human body treats rubidium as though it were potassium, so it is most often found within the cellular fluid. Rubidium does not serve a vital purpose in animals and plants.

          The atomic number of rubidium is 37, and the symbol is Rb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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