Element 37 · Alkali Metal
Rubidium
A soft, reactive alkali metal used in atomic clocks and specialty research applications.
Element Facts
SYMBOL
Rb
ATOMIC NO.
37
ATOMIC WEIGHT
85.47
CATEGORY
Alkali Metal
PERIOD
Period 5
GROUP
Group 1
Historical Uses
Rubidium was discovered spectroscopically in 1861 by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff — the year after they discovered caesium with the same technique. Named after the deep red colour of its spectral lines (Latin “rubidus” = deep red). Like caesium, it received little industrial attention for nearly a century. Rubidium atomic clocks, which offer high precision at a lower cost than caesium clocks, became important from the 1980s and are widely used in GPS receivers and telecommunications.
Overview
Rubidium is element 37, an alkali metal even more reactive than potassium. Named from the Latin "rubidus" (deep red) for its red flame test.
Current Uses
Rubidium atomic clocks in GPS satellites and telecommunications synchronisation. Specialty optical research. Some glass formulations.
Not Commercially Viable for Scrap
Why QuickStop Metals doesn’t buy Rubidium:
Pure rubidium is highly reactive and dangerous to handle. Used only in research and specialist applications. No scrap market.
Price Context
Rubidium compounds trade at approximately £4,000–12,000/kg for high-purity material. Produced mainly from lepidolite and pollucite ores. Not a standard scrap metal.