 Discovery Information
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| Who: Robert Bunsen, Gustav Kirchoff |
| When: 1861 |
| Where: Germany |
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| Name Origin
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| Latin: rubidus (red); the colour its salts impart to flames. |
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| Sources
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| Occurs abundantly, but so widespread that production is limited. Usually obtained from lithium production. Occurs in the minerals leucite, pollucite and zinnwaldite.
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| Uses
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| Used in fireworks (to give them a purple colour), atomic clocks, photoelectric cells, vacuum tubes, heart research and as
a catalyst.
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| Notes
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| Rubidium reacts violently with water and can cause fires. |
