Basic Facts
| Name: |
Rubidium |
| Symbol: |
Rb |
| Atomic Number: |
37 |
| Electron Configuration: |
1s2 2s2p6
3s2p6d10 4s2p6 5s1 |
| Atomic Weight: |
85.4678 g |
| Melting Point: |
39.31 ºC (102.76 °F) |
| Boiling Point: |
688 °C (1270 °F) |
| Density: |
1.532 g/cm3 |
| Geological information: |
Rubidium is the 16th most common element found in the
earth's crust. It's mostly found in North America, Russia, and South
Africa in the minerals pollucite, carnallite, leucite, zinnwaldite, and
lepidolite, sometimes with caesium. It's also found in fairly small
amounts in seawater and in mineral springs. |
| Isotope |
Atomic Mass |
Natural Abundance |
Radioactive? |
| 85Rb |
84.911794 |
72.17% |
No |
| 87Rb |
86.909187 |
27.83% |
Yes, breaks down into
Sr-87 |
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|
http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/rb.html |
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Rubidium has 37 protons, 37 electrons, and 48 neutrons. The first electron
shell is full with two electrons. The second shell is also full with eight
electrons, the third shell is also full with ten electrons, and the fourth
shell is also full with eight electrons. The fifth shell contains the one
valence electron. |
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Common Compounds |
| RbCl |
(rubidium chloride) |
| Rb2O |
(rubidium (I)
oxide) |
|
| Production of Rubidium |
| 2RbCl -electric current
--> 2Rb + Cl2 |
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