Rubidium is a soft, silvery-white metal that was discovered in 1861 by spectroscopic analysis. It ignites spontaneously in water and has a melting point of 312.2K and boiling point of 961K. The most abundant isotope is Rubidium-85. Rubidium is the 23rd most abundant element in the Earth's crust and is found in minerals such as lepidolite. Common compounds include rubidium chloride, hydroxide, and carbonate. Uses include research on batteries and optical glasses, though applications are limited outside research settings.