why rb is the chemical symbol for 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.ubidium has a number of oxides, including rubidium monoxide (Rb 2 O), Rb 6 O and Rb 9 O 2, which form if rubidium metal is exposed to air; rubidium in excess oxygen gives the superoxide RbO 2. Rubidium forms salts with halides, making rubidium fluoride, rubidium chloride, rubidium bromide, and rubidium iodide.