Because it is highly reactive with air and water.
metals like sodium,potassium and lithium are highly reactive metals which react vigorously with air at room temperature. the reaction is very exothermic. itthey can also be not stored in water as they react with water as well..so they are stored under kerosene to prevent the metal as well as any kind of destruction. Because these are highly reactive metals and could catch fire by reacting with oxygen in the presence of air. ...........that 's why they are stored under oil to prevent their contact with oxygen. Natural rubidium is a mix of two isotopes: 85 Rb, the only stable one, constitutes 72% of it. The remaining 28% is the slightly radioactive 87 Rb with a half-life of 49 billion years—more than three times longer than the estimated age of the universe. Rubidium 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. The alkali metals are all highly reactive and are rarely found in elemental form in nature. As a result, in the laboratory they are stored under mineral oil. Be Positive!!! · 7 years ago. It's because alkali metals are so reactive to the point that when they are exposed to air, they corrode easily, forming metallic oxides. The more reactive ones react explosively with air. If these metals were stored in water, they'd react quickly and violently too, forming metallic hydroxide, making the solution basic. Properties: Rubidium may be liquid at room temperature. It ignites spontaneously in air and reacts violently in water, setting fire to the liberated hydrogen. Thus, rubidium must be stored under dry mineral oil, in a vacuum, or in an inert atmosphere. It is a soft, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali group. Rubidium forms amalgams with mercury and alloys with gold, sodium, potassium, and cesium. Rubidium glows red-violet in a flame test. 1 Rubidium can be used to give fireworks a red-violet color. 2  Rubidium is the 23 rd most abundant element in the Earth's crust. 3  Rubidium chloride is used in biochemistry as a biomarker to track where potassium is taken up by living organisms. Confidence votes 8. To ensure purity and safety, Rubidium (Rb) must be kept in a dry mineral oil or in a vacuum. It needs to be stored in this way because it is highly reactive with air and water. 1 Learn About the Element Rb Rubidium (Rb) is a natural element that can be found in various sources, including pollucite, carnallite, and leucite. 2  It is most abundant in a crystal called lepidolite. They are the elements in the first column of the periodic table: lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and francium (Fr). See the Relate … d Questions to the left for more information about the alkali metals and their properties.  . 13 people found this useful. Edit. Share to: 1  The Definition of Alkali Metals The alkali metals are the group of elements found on the first column of the periodic table. 2  The chemical elements under the group of alkali metals are: lithium, sodium, pota…. 3  The Periodic Table of Elements Life is sustained by a number of chemical elements. All three metals will actually ignite and burn under water. The reason they are stored in oil, is because oil and water (or moisture in the air) don't mix. Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_are_potassium_sodium_and_lithium_stored_in_a_jar_of_oil#ixzz1hppT1Prx. 5 people found this useful. Edit. Share to: 1  The Definition of Alkali Metals The alkali metals are the group of elements found on the first column of the periodic table. 2  The chemical elements under the group of alkali metals are: lithium, sodium, pota…. 3  The Periodic Table of Elements Life is sustained by a number of chemical elements. 0. Metals like sodium, potassium and lithium are highly reactive and react with air at room temperature. So, in order to break their contact with air, they are stored in liquid hydrocarbons like kerosene oil, as kerosene is lighter than any of these metals. Hope this help!! Because these are highly reactive metals and could catch fire by reacting with oxygen in the presence of air. ...........that 's why they are stored under oil to prevent their contact with oxygen. Rubidium vapor is used in laser cooling systems. Rubidium has an atomic number of 37, and it is identified as Rb on the periodic table. Rubidium was discovered in the nineteenth century with the help of a spectroscope.  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. Rubidium 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.
http://www.meritnation.com/ask-answer/question/why-sodium-potassium-and-lithium-are-stored-under-oil/metals-and-non-metals/2942285 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubidium https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081007060412AAr86iT http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/rubidium.htm http://www.answers.com/Q/How_can_rubidium_be_stored_safely http://www.answers.com/Q/Why_are_alkali_metals_stored_in_oil http://www.answers.com/Q/Why_are_alkali_metals_stored_in_oil http://www.meritnation.com/ask-answer/question/why-sodium-potassium-and-lithium-are-stored-under-oil/metals-and-non-metals/2942285 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-rubidium.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubidium
why is rubidium stored in oil