Aluminum cesium sulfate.dodecahydrate

Rubidium is recovered from its ore lepidolite or pollucite. Mineral lepidolite is a lithium mica having a composition KRbLi(OH,F)Al2Si30io. The ore is opened by fusion with gypsum (potassium sulfate) or with a mixture of barium sulfate and barium carbonate. The fused mass is extracted with hot water to leach out water-soluble alums of cesium, rubidium, and potassium. The solution is filtered to remove insoluble residues. Alums of alkali metals are separated from solution by fractional crystallization. Solubility of rubidium alum or rubidium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate, RbAl(S04)2 I2H2O falls between potassium and cesium alum. 

Rubidium acid salts are usually prepared from rubidium carbonate or hydroxide and the appropriate acid in aqueous solution, followed by precipitation of the crystals or evaporation to dryness. Rubidium sulfate is also prepared by the addition of a hot solution of barium hydroxide to a boiling solution of rubidium alum until all the aluminum is precipitated. The pH of the solution is 7.6 when the reaction is complete. Aluminum hydroxide and barium sulfate are removed by filtration, and rubidium sulfate is obtained by concentration and crystallization from the filtrate. Rubidium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate [7488-54-2] (alum), RbA SO 12H20, is formed by sulfuric acid leaching of lepidolite ore. Rubidium alum is more soluble than cesium alum and less soluble than the other alkali alums. Fractional crystallization of Rb alum removes K, Na, and Li values, but concentrates the cesium value. Rubidium hydroxide, RbOH, is prepared by the reaction of rubidium sulfate and barium hydroxide in solution. The insoluble barium sulfate is removed by filtration. The solution of rubidium hydroxide can be evaporated partially in pure nickel or silver containers. Rubidium hydroxide is usually supplied as a 50% aqueous solution. Rubidium carbonate, Rb2C03, is readily formed by bubbling carbon dioxide through a solution of rubidium hydroxide, followed by evaporation to dryness in a fluorocarbon container. Other rubidium compounds can be formed in the laboratory by means of anion-exchange techniques. Table 4 lists some properties of common rubidium compounds. 

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