Rubidium biological roles

Because of their metallic and alkaline properties, potassium and especially sodium are widely used in a variety of industrial processes both as metals and as compounds with various other elements. Lithium is rarely used, but does find application in lightweight alloys with magnesium. Rubidium and cesium are not commonly utilized industrially, except for some applications in electronics. Sodium and potassium are essential for life, sodium being the principal extracellular and potassium the major intracellular monovalent cations. The other alkali metals have no essential biological role, see ALSO Bunsen, Robert Cesium Davy, Humphry Francium Lithium Mendeleev, Dimitri Potassium Rubidium Sodium. 

Because of their metallic properties and low mass, Be and Mg are used to form lightweight alloys for structural purposes. Ca sees less industrial use, although the phosphate is sometimes utifized in fertilizers. Sr and Ba have no significant industrial applications. Both Be and Ra are used in various devices, the former because it is quite transparent to x-rays and the latter because it is a ready source of both a- and y-radiation. Mg and Ca are essential to all living systems for many reasons the other alkali earths have no known biological roles, see also Beryllium Cesium Curie, Marie Sklodowska Davy, Humphry Francium Magnesium Potassium Rubidium Wohler, Friedrich. 

Cesium is ubiquitous within our environment and plays - as far as known - no role in our ecosystems. Its behavior in biological systems resembles that of potassium and rubidium. Traces of cesium are often found in minerals that mainly contain potassium. 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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