Element: Rubidium

Symbol: Rb from Latin word rubidius meaning dark red

Atomic #: 37

Atomic mass: 85.4678 g

Group: 1

Period: 5

Sources: North America, South Africa, Russia, and Canada

Uses: making glasses, photocell component, "getter" in vacuum tubes

Mass in human: .598 kg

Biological role: Stimulate metabolism

History: discovered by Robert Bunsen & Gustav Kirchoff in Germany

3 compounds contaning Rb: RbF-Rubidium flouride

RbCl-Rubidium chloride

RbBr-Rubidium bromide

Hazards: highly reactive

Natural isotopes: 85Rb(72.17%) 87Rb(27.83%)