Uses
- Rubidium is not used much outside of research.
- In the real world rubidium's main purpose is as a photocell component.
Photocells are usually used for motion detectors, since they convert light
energy to electrical energy.
- It's also used in making
special glasses.
- Due to the Rb-87 isotope's slight radioactivity, it's also been used to locate
brain tumors.
- Rubidium is also used sometimes for vacuum
and cathode-ray tubes.
- It's also used in atomic clocks sometimes, though other
elements are usually preferred.
- It was proposed to be used in ion engines, but it was found to be
a bit less effective than Caesium.
- It's also been proposed to be used in vapor turbines and in thermoelectric generators.
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