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rubidium
noun
ru·bid·i·um
rü-ˈbi-dē-əm
: a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali metal group that reacts violently with water and bursts into flame spontaneously in air see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of rubidium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Elevated levels of lithium, rubidium and cesium have been detected in waters associated with the historic Kings Mountain Mine, west of Charlotte, North Carolina, raising questions about the potential impact on environmental and human health.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
The group measured the ratios of light to heavy isotopes of both potassium and rubidium.
—Jonathan O’Callaghan, Discover Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024
Their experiments involved shooting photons through a cloud of ultracold rubidium atoms and measuring the resulting degree of atomic excitation.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2024
While studying the samples, the researchers were primarily looking for two elements both known to occur on the moon: potassium and rubidium.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Latin rubidus red, from rubēre
First Known Use
1861, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near rubidium
Cite this Entry
“Rubidium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubidium. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
rubidium
noun
ru·bid·i·um
rü-ˈbid-ē-əm
: a soft silvery metallic element that reacts violently with water see element
Medical Definition
rubidium
noun
ru·bid·i·um
rü-ˈbid-ē-əm
: a soft silvery metallic element that decomposes water with violence and bursts into flame spontaneously in air
—symbol Rb
see Chemical Elements Table
More from Merriam-Webster on rubidium
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rubidium
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