Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopic Investigation of Reaction of Rubidium and Tellurium in Liquid Ammonia Solution

Abstract

The sequential reaction of tellurium with rubidium in liquid ammonia solution has been monitored by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Reaction times for rubidium with tellurium in liquid ammonia were markedly slower than those of sodium and potassium, and the ''yellow phase'' intermediate was long lived and exhibited a peak at approximately 330 nm with a broad shoulder at about 440 nm. Species formed agree with those previously reported: Rb 2 Te, Rb 2 Te 2 , and Rb 2 Te 3 . Rb 2 Te 2 solution was a violet-blue with absorbance peaks at 285.8, 324.3, 358.0, and 560.0 nm. No evidence of disproportionation reactions for rubidium polytellurides in liquid ammonia was observed.