R for Rubidium

This is the 18th in the series of 26 posts this month, one post a day, barring four Sundays, each on a theme corresponding to a letter of the English alphabet. My theme this year is "Chemicals in our life", spurred by my interest in chemistry.

While watching fireworks, if you notice a reddish-purple colour, then quite probably a compound containing the element rubidium has been used.

That's because when heated, rubidium atoms emit a characteristic red colour in the visible spectrum. 

Some common rubidium compounds used in fireworks include rubidium carbonate, rubidium chloride, and rubidium nitrate.

Rubidium compounds are ideal for use in fireworks because they tend to burn at lower temperatures than compounds, producing a brighter and more intense colour. 

Also, this reddish-purple colour is not something that is commonly seen naturally. So, in fireworks, it makes for a spectacular display. 

Rubidium, which is slightly radioactive, has the symbol Rb and the atomic number 37. It is a very soft, whitish-grey solid. It has a low melting point of 39.3°C.

Rubidium was discovered in 1861 by German chemists Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff, who used a spectroscope to analyse the light emitted by a mineral called lepidolite. 

They noticed a bright red line in the spectrum that no other element had and named the new element after the Latin word for deep red, rubidius.

IN GLASS AND ATOMIC CLOCKS

Another use of rubidium salts is in the making of glass and ceramics. Rubidium lowers the melting point and viscosity of glass, making it easier to shape and mould it. It also improves the durability and refractive index of glass.

Rubidium is also used in atomic clocks, which are the most accurate timekeepers in the world. Its atoms vibrate at a very precise frequency when exposed to microwaves, and this frequency can be used to measure time with an accuracy of one second in 300 million years.

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Image of fireworks from Pixabay.

The information provided in this post has been obtained from multiple, authentic resources. However, it is presented in an abridged format and might not have all the details. Therefore, before acting on any information, readers are requested to exercise caution and do further research.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023. I am also on A2Z April Challenge.