Rubidium nitrate
Encyclopedia
Rubidium nitrate is an inorganic compound
with the formula Rb
NO3
. This salt is white and highly soluble in water.
. In a flame test
, RbNO3 gives a mauve/light purple colour.
, it is used in infrared
radiation producing pyrotechnic composition
s as a colorant
and an oxidizer, e.g. in decoys and illumination flare
s. It is also used as a raw material for preparation of other rubidium compounds and rubidium metal, for manufacture of catalysts and in scintillation counter
s. It finds uncommon use in fireworks
to produce a red-violet color.
Inorganic compound
Inorganic compounds have traditionally been considered to be of inanimate, non-biological origin. In contrast, organic compounds have an explicit biological origin. However, over the past century, the classification of inorganic vs organic compounds has become less important to scientists,...
with the formula Rb
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...
NO3
Nitrate
The nitrate ion is a polyatomic ion with the molecular formula NO and a molecular mass of 62.0049 g/mol. It is the conjugate base of nitric acid, consisting of one central nitrogen atom surrounded by three identically-bonded oxygen atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement. The nitrate ion carries a...
. This salt is white and highly soluble in water.
Properties
Rubidium nitrate is a white crystalline powder that is highly soluble in water and very slightly soluble in acetoneAcetone
Acetone is the organic compound with the formula 2CO, a colorless, mobile, flammable liquid, the simplest example of the ketones.Acetone is miscible with water and serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for cleaning purposes in the laboratory...
. In a flame test
Flame test
A flame test is a procedure used in chemistry to detect the presence of certain metal ions, based on each element's characteristic emission spectrum. The color of flames in general also depends on temperature; see flame color....
, RbNO3 gives a mauve/light purple colour.
Uses
Rubidium compounds have very few applications. Like caesium nitrateCaesium nitrate
Caesium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CsNO3. It is used in pyrotechnic compositions, as a colorant and an oxidizer, e.g. in decoys and illumination flares...
, it is used in infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
radiation producing pyrotechnic composition
Pyrotechnic composition
A pyrotechnic composition is a substance or mixture of substances designed to produce an effect by heat, light, sound, gas or smoke or a combination of these, as a result of non-detonative self-sustaining exothermic chemical reactions...
s as a colorant
Pyrotechnic colorant
A pyrotechnic colorant is a chemical compound which causes a flame to burn with a particular color. These are used to create the colors in pyrotechnic compositions like fireworks and colored fires. The color-producing species are usually created from other chemicals during the reaction. Metal salts...
and an oxidizer, e.g. in decoys and illumination flare
Flare (pyrotechnic)
A flare, also sometimes called a fusee, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for signalling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in civilian and military applications...
s. It is also used as a raw material for preparation of other rubidium compounds and rubidium metal, for manufacture of catalysts and in scintillation counter
Scintillation counter
A scintillation counter measures ionizing radiation. The sensor, called a scintillator, consists of a transparent crystal, usually phosphor, plastic , or organic liquid that fluoresces when struck by ionizing radiation. A sensitive photomultiplier tube measures the light from the crystal...
s. It finds uncommon use in fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
to produce a red-violet color.
Production
RbNO3 can be prepared either by dissolving rubidium metal, its hydroxide or carbonate in nitric acid.- RbOH + HNO3 → RbNO3 + H2O
- 2 Rb + 2 HNO3 → 2 RbNO3 + H2