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Periodic Table of Nottingham
Rb

Rubidium

Nottingham element: Richard Beckinsale

Richard Arthur Beckinsale was an English actor, who played Lennie Godber in the BBC sitcom Porridge (along with its sequel series Going Straight) and Alan Moore in the British ITV sitcom Rising Damp.

He is the father of actresses Samantha Beckinsale and Kate Beckinsale.

Beckinsale was born in Carlton, Nottinghamshire. He left Alderman White Secondary Modern School at 15 with ambitions to become an actor, so while working in numerous manual jobs he enrolled at a Nottingham adult drama class. As a result, he won a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, turning professional in 1968. 

Scientific element: Rubidium

Rubidium was discovered by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff in 1861.

Rubidium is one of the most alkaline elements.It spontaneously ignites in air.

It has a very violent reaction with water when it ignites the hydrogen that is freed during the reaction.It oxidizes very quickly in air.

Rubidium is commonly used to alloy with gold, sodium, potassium, and caesium.

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