Rubidium sesquioxide
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rubidium sesquioxide is a chemical compound with the formula Rb2O3 or more accurately Rb4O6. In terms of oxidation states, rubidium in this compound has a nominal charge of +1, and the oxygen is a mixed peroxide (O2−2) and superoxide (O−2) for a structural formula of (Rb+)4(O−2)2(O2−2).[4] It has been studied theoretically as an example of a strongly correlated material.[5]
| Identifiers | |
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3D model (JSmol) |
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PubChem CID |
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| Properties | |
| Rb4O6 | |
| Molar mass | 437.865 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | Black crystals[1] |
| Melting point | 461 °C (862 °F; 734 K)[2] |
| Structure[3] | |
| Pu2C3 structure type (body-centered cubic) | |
| I43d (No. 220) | |
a = 932 pm | |
Formula units (Z) |
4 |
| Related compounds | |
Other cations |
Caesium sesquioxide |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Structure
Preparation
Rubidium sesquioxide can be prepared by reacting the peroxide Rb2O2 and the superoxide RbO2:[2]
- Rb2O2 + 2 RbO2 → 2 Rb2O3
History
It was initially discovered in 1907,[7][3] and more thoroughly characterized in 1939.[6]
The compound was predicted to be a rare example of a ferromagnetic compound that is magnetic due to a p-block element,[8] and a half-metal that was conducting in the minority spin band.[9] However, while the material does have exotic magnetic behavior, experimental results instead showed an electrically insulating magnetically frustrated system.[1][5] Rb4O6 also displays a Verwey transition where charge ordering appears at 290 K.[10]
