37RbRubidium85.46783[Kr] 5s¹
alkali metal

Rubidium

Rubidium is a chemical element with symbol Rb and atomic number 37. Rubidium is a soft, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali metal group, with an atomic mass of 85.4678. Elemental rubidium is highly reactive, with properties similar to those of other alkali metals, such as very rapid oxidation in air.

Electronic structure

A stylized shell model. Electrons are quantum objects, not particles following these literal paths. Sizes and motion are illustrative.

Electrons by shell
Electron configuration
5s1

36 is the [Kr] core total across four shells.

Properties

At a glance

Atomic number
37
Atomic mass
85.46783 u
Phase
Solid
Density
1.532 g/cm³
Melting point
312.45 K
Boiling point
961 K
First ionization energy
403 kJ/mol
Electronegativity
0.82
Electron affinity
46.884 kJ/mol
Molar heat capacity
31.06 J/(mol·K)
Period
5
Appearance
grey white

Conditions and isotopes affect measured properties. Some properties of short-lived elements are predicted. Electronegativity uses the Pauling scale.

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