Rubidium chloride

Rubidium-chloride-3D-ionic.png

Rubidium chloride is a chemical compound with the formula RbCl. It is the rubidium salt of hydrochloric acid and consists of rubidium and chlorine atoms in a 1:1 ratio. Rubidium chloride is a white crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water.

Properties

Rubidium chloride is similar in many respects to other alkali metal chlorides such as sodium chloride and potassium chloride. It has a high melting point of 718 °C and a boiling point of 1,390 °C. The compound is hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb moisture from the air.

Preparation

Rubidium chloride can be prepared by the reaction of rubidium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid: <math> RbOH + HCl → RbCl + H_2O </math>

Alternatively, it can be produced by the reaction of rubidium carbonate with hydrochloric acid: <math> Rb_2CO_3 + 2 HCl → 2 RbCl + CO_2 + H_2O </math>

Applications

Rubidium chloride has several applications in various fields:

• **Biochemistry**: It is used in the preparation of rubidium-based biological and biomedical studies. Rubidium ions can be used to trace the movement of ions in biological systems.
• **Electronics**: Rubidium chloride is used in the manufacture of special types of glass and in the production of rubidium-based atomic clocks.
• **Medicine**: It has been studied for its potential use in cancer treatment and radiotherapy.

Safety

Rubidium chloride is generally considered to be of low toxicity, but it should be handled with care. It can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Proper safety measures, such as wearing gloves and goggles, should be taken when handling the compound.

See also

• Rubidium
• Rubidium hydroxide
• Rubidium carbonate
• Alkali metal
• Hydrochloric acid