Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chemical element: Rubidium is a soft, silvery-white metallic element belonging to the alkali metal group on the periodic table. It is highly reactive, igniting spontaneously in air and reacting explosively with water.
   • An occurrence in nature: Rubidium occurs in various minerals but is not found freely in nature due to its high reactivity. It is typically obtained as a byproduct from processing other minerals.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Rubidium is used in some atomic clocks due to its precise frequency.
  • The scientist handled the sample of rubidium with extreme caution under an inert atmosphere.

Advanced Usage

• "Rubidium standard": A frequency standard in which the hyperfine transition of rubidium atoms is used to control the output frequency. It is a type of atomic clock.

  • The satellite's navigation system relies on a highly accurate rubidium standard.

• "Rubidium-strontium dating": A radiometric dating technique used in geology to determine the age of rocks.

  • Rubidium-strontium dating was used to estimate the age of the ancient rock formation.

Variants and Related Words

• Rubidic (adj): Pertaining to or containing rubidium.
  • The rubidic compound was analyzed in the lab.

Synonyms

• Element 37: Referring to its atomic number on the periodic table.
• Rb: The chemical symbol for rubidium.

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Rubidium vapor: Rubidium in a gaseous state, often used in physics experiments.

  • The experiment required a cell filled with rubidium vapor.

• Rubidium oxide: A chemical compound formed from rubidium and oxygen (Rb₂O).

  • Rubidium oxide is a yellow solid that reacts vigorously with water.

Noun

1. a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali metal group; burns in air and reacts violently in water; occurs in carnallite and lepidolite and pollucite