Rubidium hydroxide
Encyclopedia
Rubidium hydroxide is a strong basic chemical
and alkali
that is formed by one rubidium
ion and one hydroxide
ion.
Rubidium hydroxide does not appear in nature. However it can be obtained by synthesis
from rubidium oxide
. In addition, rubidium hydroxide is commercially available in form of an aqueous solution
from a few suppliers.
Rubidium hydroxide is highly corrosive
, therefore suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye-face protection are required when handling this material.
by dissolving the oxide
into water
:
Rubidium hydroxide is also commercially available from a certain number of chemical suppliers in form of 50% or 99% aqueous solution
at multiples of 5 g
.
and sodium hydroxide can perform nearly all the industrial functions of rubidium hydroxide in a less violent and hence safer way.
Rubidium hydroxide is used in scientific research. It is often used sparingly to prevent waste of the expensive element rubidium
.
Despite the fact that rubidium hydroxide is rarely used in normal industrial processes, it is notable that the synthesis of nearly all rubidium compounds involves rubidium hydroxide as an intermediate. Natural rubidium oxide is added to water, and the resulting reaction forms soluble rubidium hydroxide as a product.
to the skin on contact. Ultimate care must be carried out when handling this chemical.
In the laboratory, protective clothing, gloves, and eye-face protection made from alkali-resistant materials are to be worn to prevent injury caused by accidental leakage
of rubidium hydroxide onto human skin.
Dilution
of this strong alkali must be done by adding the hydroxide slowly into the beaker of water.
In addition, chemical experiments on this compound must be performed with caution to prevent the great amount of heat released in an exothermic reaction
from causing the solution to boil-over or damage the vessel.
Base (chemistry)
For the term in genetics, see base A base in chemistry is a substance that can accept hydrogen ions or more generally, donate electron pairs. A soluble base is referred to as an alkali if it contains and releases hydroxide ions quantitatively...
and alkali
Alkali
In chemistry, an alkali is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal element. Some authors also define an alkali as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of a soluble base has a pH greater than 7. The adjective alkaline is commonly used in English as a synonym for base,...
that is formed by one rubidium
Rubidium
Rubidium is a chemical element with the symbol Rb and atomic number 37. Rubidium is a soft, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali metal group. Its atomic mass is 85.4678. Elemental rubidium is highly reactive, with properties similar to those of other elements in group 1, such as very rapid...
ion and one hydroxide
Hydroxide
Hydroxide is a diatomic anion with chemical formula OH−. It consists of an oxygen and a hydrogen atom held together by a covalent bond, and carrying a negative electric charge. It is an important but usually minor constituent of water. It functions as a base, as a ligand, a nucleophile, and a...
ion.
Rubidium hydroxide does not appear in nature. However it can be obtained by synthesis
Chemical synthesis
In chemistry, chemical synthesis is purposeful execution of chemical reactions to get a product, or several products. This happens by physical and chemical manipulations usually involving one or more reactions...
from rubidium oxide
Rubidium oxide
Rubidium oxide is the chemical compound with the formula Rb2O. Rubidium oxide is highly reactive towards water, and therefore it would not be expected to occur naturally. The rubidium content in minerals is often calculated and quoted in terms of Rb2O. In reality, the rubidium is typically...
. In addition, rubidium hydroxide is commercially available in form of an aqueous solution
Aqueous solution
An aqueous solution is a solution in which the solvent is water. It is usually shown in chemical equations by appending aq to the relevant formula, such as NaCl. The word aqueous means pertaining to, related to, similar to, or dissolved in water...
from a few suppliers.
Rubidium hydroxide is highly corrosive
Corrosive
A corrosive substance is one that will destroy or irreversibly damage another surface or substance with which it comes into contact. The main hazards to people include damage to the eyes, the skin, and the tissue under the skin; inhalation or ingestion of a corrosive substance can damage the...
, therefore suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye-face protection are required when handling this material.
Synthesis
Rubidium hydroxide can be synthesized from rubidium oxideRubidium oxide
Rubidium oxide is the chemical compound with the formula Rb2O. Rubidium oxide is highly reactive towards water, and therefore it would not be expected to occur naturally. The rubidium content in minerals is often calculated and quoted in terms of Rb2O. In reality, the rubidium is typically...
by dissolving the oxide
Oxide
An oxide is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom in its chemical formula. Metal oxides typically contain an anion of oxygen in the oxidation state of −2....
into water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
:
- Rb2O (s) + H2O (l) → 2 RbOH (aq)
Rubidium hydroxide is also commercially available from a certain number of chemical suppliers in form of 50% or 99% aqueous solution
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
at multiples of 5 g
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
.
Uses
Rubidium hydroxide is rarely used in industrial processes because potassium hydroxidePotassium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula KOH, commonly called caustic potash.Along with sodium hydroxide , this colorless solid is a prototypical strong base. It has many industrial and niche applications. Most applications exploit its reactivity toward acids and its corrosive...
and sodium hydroxide can perform nearly all the industrial functions of rubidium hydroxide in a less violent and hence safer way.
Rubidium hydroxide is used in scientific research. It is often used sparingly to prevent waste of the expensive element rubidium
Rubidium
Rubidium is a chemical element with the symbol Rb and atomic number 37. Rubidium is a soft, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali metal group. Its atomic mass is 85.4678. Elemental rubidium is highly reactive, with properties similar to those of other elements in group 1, such as very rapid...
.
Despite the fact that rubidium hydroxide is rarely used in normal industrial processes, it is notable that the synthesis of nearly all rubidium compounds involves rubidium hydroxide as an intermediate. Natural rubidium oxide is added to water, and the resulting reaction forms soluble rubidium hydroxide as a product.
Hazard prevention
Rubidium hydroxide is a corrosive compound that causes immediate burnsBurn (injury)
A burn is a type of injury to flesh caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation or friction. Most burns affect only the skin . Rarely, deeper tissues, such as muscle, bone, and blood vessels can also be injured...
to the skin on contact. Ultimate care must be carried out when handling this chemical.
In the laboratory, protective clothing, gloves, and eye-face protection made from alkali-resistant materials are to be worn to prevent injury caused by accidental leakage
Leakage
Leakage may refer to:*Leakage *Memory leak, in computer science*Leakage *Leakage *Leakage *Leakage...
of rubidium hydroxide onto human skin.
Dilution
Dilution
Dilution may refer to:* Reducing the concentration of a chemical* Serial dilution, a common way of going about this reduction of concentration* Homeopathic dilution* Dilution , an equation to calculate the rate a gas dilutes...
of this strong alkali must be done by adding the hydroxide slowly into the beaker of water.
In addition, chemical experiments on this compound must be performed with caution to prevent the great amount of heat released in an exothermic reaction
Exothermic reaction
An exothermic reaction is a chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of light or heat. It is the opposite of an endothermic reaction. Expressed in a chemical equation:-Overview:...
from causing the solution to boil-over or damage the vessel.