Basic knowledge of the rubidium

Rb is lively low melting point metal, density 1.532, 38.89 ℃ melting point, boiling point 686 ℃, soft, malleable. Rubidium chemical properties similar to potassium, but than potassium lively, spontaneous combustion at room temperature and air, and therefore must be in strict isolation air cases stored in liquid paraffin. Rb with water or even with the low temperature to - 100 ℃ ice contact, can also occur violent reaction, generate hydroxide rubidium and hydrogen. Rubidium and have limited oxygen effect, oxidation, in excess oxygen combustion, generate superoxide. Rb can react with the halogen. Rubidium ions can make flame dyed purple, available flame reaction and flame photometer detect.

Rb and other liquid alkali metal can be made of low melting point alloy, such as 13% Rb - 13% Cs, a total of melting point - 39 ℃; 85% K - 15% Rb, melting point - 34 ℃; Na 8% - 92% Rb, melting point 5.2 ℃. Rb can also and a lot of transition metal compounds. Natural rubidium by stable isotope 85 rb (72.15%) and 87 rb radioactive isotope (27.85%). 87 rb produced beta decay and stable isotope 87 sr, has a half-life of 5.9 x in 1010. The above reaction is often used to determine the age of the rocks, ancient fossil and meteorites.

Rb in the earth's crust is fragmented, haven't found a simple rubidium mineral. Rb often scattered in the lithium mica, black mica, pollux and salt layer. Lithium mica content of rubidium in up to 3.75%, is the main source of extraction of rb. Rubidium content in carnallite, although not high, high stocks. Seawater contains about 0.121 g/t of rubidium, a lot of mineral water, salt lake brine also contains more rb.

Because the rubidium is very lively, not by electrolysis production rubidium, and should use metal thermal reduction process. Main extraction methods of rubidium compounds have double salt precipitation, solvent extraction, ion exchange method, using metal thermal reduction method to restore rubidium chloride calcium, magnesium or calcium carbide reduction rubidium carbonate, metal can be obtained from rb.

Rb is manufacturing electronic devices (photomultiplier photocell), spectrophotometer, automatic control, spectrometry, color television, radar, laser, and the important raw material for glass, ceramic, electronic clock, etc. In terms of space technology, ion thruster and thermionic converter requires a lot of rubidium; Rubidium hydride and boride as a high-energy solid fuel; Radioactive rubidium can age determination of minerals.