Rubidium: historical information Rubidium was discovered in 1861
spectroscopically by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchoff as an
impurity associated with samples of the mineral lepidolite (a
form of mica). The name rubidium (from the Latin "rubidus" -
dark red) was coined for its bright red spectroscopic lines.
Rubidium salts were isolated by Bunsen by precipitation from
spring waters - along with salts of other Group 1 elements. He
was able to separate them and isolated the chloride and the
carbonate. He isolated rubidium metal by reducing rubidium
hydrogen tartrate with carbon. WebElements now has a WebElements
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