Rubidium fluoride

Rubidium fluoride Property

Melting point:

775°C

Boiling point:

1410°C

Density 

3.557 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)

refractive index 

1.398

solubility 

ethanol: insoluble(lit.)

form 

Crystalline

Specific Gravity

3.557

color 

White

Water Solubility 

soluble

Sensitive 

Hygroscopic

Crystal Structure

NaCl type

crystal system

Cube

Space group

Fm3m

Lattice constant

a/nm	b/nm	c/nm	α/o	β/o	γ/o	V/nm3
0.5652	0.5652	0.5652	90	90	90	0.1805

Exposure limits

ACGIH: TWA 2.5 mg/m3
NIOSH: IDLH 250 mg/m3; TWA 2.5 mg/m3

Stability:

Stable. Hygroscopic. Non-flammable, but HF may be released in a fire. Incompatible with acids.

CAS DataBase Reference

13446-74-7(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Rubidium fluoride(13446-74-7)

EPA Substance Registry System

Rubidium fluoride (RbF) (13446-74-7)

Safety

Hazard Codes 

Xi,Xn

Risk Statements 

20/21/22-40-36/37/38

Safety Statements 

26-36-36/37/39-45-22

RIDADR 

UN3288

WGK Germany 

3

RTECS 

VL8740000

Hazard Note 

Irritant

TSCA 

Yes

HazardClass 

6.1

PackingGroup 

III

HS Code 

28261990

Hazard and Precautionary Statements (GHS)

Symbol(GHS)

Signal word

Warning

Hazard statements

H351Suspected of causing cancer

Precautionary statements

P201Obtain special instructions before use.

P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.

P308+P313IF exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention.

Rubidium fluoride Chemical Properties,Usage,Production

Chemical Properties

Rubidium fluoride is a colorless cubic crystal. It is highly toxic and soluble in water and dilute hydrofluoric acid solutions, but insoluble in ethanol, diethyl ether, and ammonia. Its hydrofluoric acid solution exhibits strong acidity and can corrode glass.

Uses

As raw materials for preparation of rubidium metal and various rubidium salts, for the manufacturing of catalyst and for the manufacturing of high energy density micro cells and crystal scintillation counters.

Preparation

Rubidium fluoride is produced by concentrating the reaction product of rubidium carbonate with hydrofluoric acid.

Reactions

There are several methods for synthesising rubidium fluoride. One involves reacting rubidium hydroxide with hydrofluoric acid:
RbOH + HF → RbF + H2O
Another method is to neutralize rubidium carbonate with hydrofluoric acid:
Rb2CO3 + 2HF → 2RbF + H2O + CO2
Another possible method is to react rubidium hydroxide with ammonium fluoride:
RbOH + NH4F → RbF + H2O + NH3
The least used method due to expense of rubidium metal is to react it directly with fluorine gas, as rubidium reacts violently with halogens:
2Rb + F2 → 2RbF

Hazard

Strong irritant to tissue.

Safety Profile

Poison as a soluble fluoride. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of RbzO and F-. See also RUBIDIUM and FLUORIDES.