Definition

A soft, silvery-white metal that belongs to the alkali group. It can catch fire easily in air and reacts strongly with water. It is used in devices like photocells and vacuum tubes.

Example

Rubidium is used in some types of atomic clocks and research applications.

Conversation

Did you know that rubidium is one of the alkali metals?

No, I had no idea! What’s special about it?

It's pretty interesting; it reacts violently with water and even ignites in air.

Wow, that sounds dangerous! I guess I won't be experimenting with it anytime soon.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Rubidium is derived from the Latin word "rubidus" (meaning red), which refers to the red lines in its spectrum. The suffix "-ium" is commonly used in chemistry to denote metallic elements. Thus, rubidium refers to a metallic element characterized by its red spectral lines.

Memory Tip

Think of the Latin word for red, 'rubidus', to remember that rubidium is named for the red lines it shows in its spectrum.

Visually Confused Words