Sodium-cesium alloy

The direct metallothermic reduction of pollucite ore with sodium metal is the primary commercial source of cesium metal. In the process, raw pollucite ore is reduced with sodium molten metal at ca. 650"C to form a sodium-cesium alloy containing some rubidium as impurity. Fractional distillation of this alloy in a distillation column at ca. 700"C produces 99.9 wt.% pure cesium metal. Cesium can also be obtained pyrometallurgiccdly reducing the chloride CsCl with calcium metal or the hydroxide CsOH with magnesium metal. Nevertheless, the electrolytic recovery of a cesium amalgam from an aqueous solution of cesium chloride can be achieved in a process similar to the chlor-alkali production with a mercury cathode. Afterwards, the cesium is removed from the amalgam by vacuum distillation. However, cesium metal is produced in rather limited amounts because of its relatively high cost (US 40,800 /kg)... 

Bonilla, C. F., D. L. Sawhuey, and N. M. Makansi, 1962, Vapor Pressure of Alkali Metals III, Rubidium, Cesium, and Sodium-Potassium alloy up to 100 psia, Proc. 1962 High Temperature Liquid MetaI Heat Transfer Tech. Meeting, BNL-756, Brookhaven, NY. (3)... 

The sodium-potassium alloy (45-90 weight %K) is molten at room temperature and cesium melts at 28.5°, so both of these are easily handled as liquids. For example, a hypodermic syringe is convenient for their transfer. The sodium-potassium alloy is made by heating the two metals together while they are protected by a high-molecular-weight hydrocarbon. 

EXPLOSION and FIRE CONCERNS combustible solid in powder form flammable when exposed to flame or by chemical reaction with oxidizers NFPA rating (not available) reacts violently with alkali carbonates, oxidants, calcium, cesium carbide, cobalt difluoride, iodine pentafluoride, manganese trifluoride, nitrosyl fluoride, silver fluoride, and sodium-potassium alloys bums in fluorine and chlorine will react with water or steam to produce hydrogen when heated in case of fire, all extinguishing agents are allowed for firefighting purposes. 

The reaction of benzene with cesium and cesium alloys to form cesium benzenide is remarkable. In contrast benzene in 0.01 M solution in 2 1 by volume of THF and 1,2-dimethoxyethane with Na-K alloy according to ESR analysis gave (59) concentrations of radical anion at equilibrium of 10 to 10" M as the temperature decreased from -20° to -83 . The superior reducing power of cesium and its alloys was perhaps to be anticipated in view of the superior reducing power of cesium over potassium in aqueous solution and the appreciably lower ionization potential of cesium compared to potassium in the gas phase. These properties will be influenced by differential solvation of potassium and cesium ions by tetrahydrofuran and by the nature of the ion pairs produced. For 9-fluorenyl salts the fraction of solvent-separated ion pairs has been shown (52) to decrease rapidly in the order Li > Na > K > Cs and is a sensitive function of the solvating power of the medium. The cesium salt of fluorene in THF at -70°C has been shown to exist essentially entirely as contact ion pairs whereas the sodium and lithium salts were completely solvent-separated. The reluctance of cesium cations to become solvent-separated from counteranions means that cesium ions are available for strong electrostatic interaction with anions. 

Cesiu)n,potassium,sodium Reactions with cesium alloys Reductive ring closure to isocyclics... 

Rubidium can be liquid at room temperature. It is a soft, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali group and is the second most electropositive and alkaline element. It ignites spontaneously in air and reacts violently in water, setting fire to the liberated hydrogen. As with other alkali metals, it forms amalgams with mercury and it alloys with gold, cesium, sodium, and potassium. It colors a flame yellowish violet. Rubidium metal can be prepared by reducing rubidium chloride with calcium, and by a number of other methods. It must be kept under a dry mineral oil or in a vacuum or inert atmosphere. 

One problem in refining cesium is that it is usually found along with rubidium therefore, the two elements must be separated after they are extracted from their sources. The main process to produce cesium is to finely grind its ores and then heat the mix to about 600°C along with liquid sodium, which produces an alloy of Na, Cs, and Ru, which are separated by fractional distillation. Cesium can also be produced by the thermochemical reduction of a mixture of cesium chloride (CsCl) and calcium (Ca). 

Rubidium alloys easily with potassium, sodium, silver, and gold, and forms amalgams with mercury. Rubidium and potassium arc completely miscible 111 the solid state. Cesium and rubidium form an uninterrupted series of solid solutions. These alloys, in various combinations, are used mainly as getters for removing the last traces of air in htgh-vacmim devices and systems. 

SAFETY PROFILE A highly corrosive irritant to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Mildly toxic by inhalation, Explosive reaction with alcohols + hydrogen cyanide, potassium permanganate, sodium (with aqueous HCl), tetraselenium tetranitride. Ignition on contact with aluminum-titanium alloys (with HCl vapor), fluorine, hexa-lithium disilicide, metal acetylides or carbides (e.g., cesium acetylide, rubidium ace-tylide). Violent reaction with 1,1-difluoro-ethylene. Vigorous reaction with aluminum, chlorine + dinitroanilines (evolves gas). Potentially dangerous reaction with sulfuric acid releases HCl gas. Adsorption of the acid onto silicon dioxide is exothermic. See also HYDROGEN CHLORIDE (AEROSOL) and HYDROCHLORIC ACID. 

Ignition on contact with bromine pentafluoride (or violent reaction), chlorine trifluoride, fluorine, metals (powdered) + water, aluminum-titanium alloys + heat, metal acetylides (e.g., cesium acetylide, copper(I) acetylide, lithium acetylide, mbidium acetylide), nonmetals (e.g., boron ignites at 700°C), phosphoms, sodium phosphinate. Violent reaction with acetaldehyde, aluminum + diethyl ether, dipropylmercury, titanium (above 113°C). Incandescent reaction with cesium oxide... 

SULFUROUS OXIDE (7446-09-5) SO, Noncombustible liquefied gas under pressure or liquid. Contact with air forms hydrogen chloride fumes. Violent reaction with water or steam, forming sulfurous acid, a medium-strong acid and corrosion hazard. Reacts violently with acetylene, acrolein, alcohols, aluminum powder alkali metals (i.e., potassium, sodium) amines, ammonia, bromine pentafluoride butadiene caustics, cesium acetylene carbide chlorates, chlorine trifluoride chromium powder copper or copper alloy powders chlorine, diethylzinc, fluorine, ethylene oxide lead dioxide lithium acetylene carbide diamino-, metal powders monolithium acetylide-ammonia nitryl chloride potassium acetylene carbide potassium acetylide, potassium chlorate rubidium carbide silver azide sodium acetylide staimous oxide. Decon oses in... 

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