Rubidium iodide
Rubidium iodide, more specifically rubidium monoiodide, is a salt of rubidium and iodine, with the chemical formula RbI. It is a white solid with a melting point of 646.85 °C.
Properties
Rubidium iodide forms colorless crystals, and has a red-violet flame color.It is easily soluble in water, liquid ammonia, sulfuric acid, RbI·6NH3 and RbI·3SO2. Rubidium iodide is soluble only in the following solvents:
| Solvent | 0 °C | 25 °C |
| Acetonitrile | 1.478 | 1.350 |
| Propionitrile | 0.274 | 0.305 |
| Nitromethane | 0.567 | 0.518 |
| Acetone | 0.960 | 0.674 |
| Furfural | 4,930 |
Structure
Rubidium iodide has a sodium chloride structure; its lattice constant is a = 7.326 Å, and the Rb–I bond length is 3.66 Å.Preparation
Rubidium iodide can be synthesized in several ways. One is to use a mixed reaction of rubidium hydroxide and hydriodic acid/hydrogen iodide:Another method is to neutralize rubidium carbonate with hydriodic acid:
Another method is to use rubidium metal to react directly with iodine, but because rubidium metal is very expensive, it is the least commonly used method. In addition, rubidium reacts violently with halogens and burns:
Applications
Rubidium iodide is used as a component of eye drops, in which it is sold in Romania under the name Rubjovit. Another product is Polijodurato. However, there are studies that show that rubidium iodide has allergy-triggering and inflammation-causing side effects. Homeopathic products containing rubidium iodide are available under the name Rubidium iodatum. In the past, towards the end of the 19th century, it was used to treat syphilis.Rubidium iodide has isolated uses in organic synthesis, for example for the targeted saponification of a polymethylated phosphate.