| rubidium | <chemistry, element> A rare metallic element. It occurs quite widely, but in small quantities, and always combined. It is isolated as a soft yellowish white metal, analogous to potassium in most of its properties. Origin: NL, fr. L. Rubidus red, fr. Rubere to be red. So called from two dark red spectroscopic lines by means of which it was discovered in the lepidolite from Rozena, Moravia. Abbreviation: Rb (17 Mar 1998) |
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| rubidium radioisotopes | Unstable isotopes of rubidium that decay or disintegrate emitting radiation. Rb atoms with atomic weights 79-84, and 86-95 are radioactive rubidium isotopes. (12 Dec 1998) |