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Research draft

rubidium

vr.tr.rubidium · PHY.MAT

Let an agent identify rubidium and its properties, relay isotopes, production and uses from reference sources, relay safety information, and distinguish it from other alkali metals.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent identify rubidium and its properties, relay isotopes, production and uses from reference sources, relay safety information, and distinguish it from other alkali metals.

A chemical element with symbol Rb and atomic number 37, a soft, silvery-white alkali metal that melts just above room temperature, reacts violently with water and ignites in air; rubidium has two natural isotopes, of which rubidium-87 is weakly radioactive and used in rubidium-strontium dating, and the element is used in atomic clocks, cold atom research, photocells and specialty glass.

What it is for: Atomic clocks, research, photocells and specialty glass.

It can be relay properties and isotopes; explain production and uses; relay safety information; distinguish from other alkali metals.

Distinguishing features

Very reactive alkali metal

Low melting point

Rb-87 for geochronology

Atomic clock and cold atom use

What it looks like

A soft, silvery-white metal stored under inert gas or oil, tarnishing rapidly in air.

Physical character

atomic number: 37 Z

standard atomic weight: 85.468 u

melting point: 39.3 degrees C

rubidium-87 half-life: about 49 billion years

How it is recognised

Element 37, symbol Rb

Alkali metal, highly reactive

Potassium and caesium are the neighbouring alkali metals

Related models

is a kind of - in registry terms

alkali metal

is a kind of - in registry terms

s-block element

is used in - the rubidium standard

atomic clock

is used in - through Rb-87

rubidium-strontium dating

In practice

Families and kinds

rubidium metal

rubidium compounds such as the chloride and carbonate

isotopes from rubidium-71 to rubidium-103, with Rb-85 stable and Rb-87 long-lived

rubidium in atomic physics

Identifiers

symbol Rb

CAS 7440-17-7

Standards and regulation

Hazardous material handling and transport rules for alkali metals

Chemical safety data sheets

Failure modes and hazards

Fire and explosion on contact with water or air

Caustic hydroxide formation

Confusion with caesium in applications

Also called

rubidium-71rubidium-72rubidium-73rubidium-74rubidium-75rubidium-76rubidium-77rubidium-78rubidium-79rubidium-92rubidium-93rubidium-94rubidium-95rubidium-96rubidium-97rubidium-98rubidium-99rubidium-100rubidium-101rubidium-102rubidium-72mrubidium-76mrubidium-78mrubidium-80mrubidium-81mrubidium-82mrubidium-83mrubidium-84mrubidium-86mrubidium-90mrubidium-93mrubidium-96mrubidium-98mrubidium-90rubidium-87rubidium-86rubidium-85rubidium-88rubidium-89rubidium-83

+6

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Also registered as vr.tr.rubidium

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Identify What rubidium is.

Identity.

Properties

Properties.

Properties

Properties.

  1. What are the physical and chemical properties of rubidium? definition
  2. Is the question about rubidium or a neighbouring alkali metal? boundary

Isotopes

Isotopes.

Isotopes

Isotopes.

  1. Which isotopes exist, and how is rubidium-87 used in dating? definition
  2. Which entry fits the specific isotope? action
Source Occurrence and production.

Supply.

Occurrence

Occurrence.

Occurrence

Occurrence.

  1. Where does rubidium occur, and how is it extracted as a by-product of lithium and caesium? provenance
  2. Which entry fits lepidolite? action

Supply

Supply.

Supply

Supply.

  1. Who produces rubidium, and in what quantities, with sources? measurement
  2. Which sources are cited? provenance
Use Uses and safety.

Application.

Uses

Uses.

Uses

Uses.

  1. How is rubidium used in atomic clocks, cold atom physics, photocells and glass? provenance
  2. Which entry fits the rubidium standard? action

Safety

Safety.

Safety

Safety.

  1. What hazards does rubidium present, and how is it handled? provenance
  2. Is the user planning to handle it, which needs trained supervision? boundary
Context History.

Context.

Discovery

Discovery.

Discovery

Discovery.

  1. How was rubidium discovered by Bunsen and Kirchhoff in 1861 by spectroscopy? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance

Research

Research role.

Research

Research.

  1. Why is rubidium favoured in Bose-Einstein condensate and quantum research? provenance
  2. Which entry fits Bose-Einstein condensate? action

What the second pass must settle

  • Should isotopes be separate entries?
  • How should reference data be linked?
  • The registry entry has merged aliases naming isotopes; should they be split off?