strontium

[ stron-shee-uhm, -shuhm, -tee-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a bivalent, metallic element whose compounds resemble those of calcium, found in nature only in the combined state, as in strontianite: used in fireworks, flares, and tracer bullets. : Sr; : 87.62; : 38; : 2.6.

strontium

/ ˈstrɒntɪəm /

noun

1. a soft silvery-white element of the alkaline earth group of metals, occurring chiefly in celestite and strontianite. Its compounds burn with a crimson flame and are used in fireworks. The radioisotope strontium-90, with a half-life of 28.1 years, is used in nuclear power sources and is a hazardous nuclear fall-out product. Symbol: Sr; atomic no: 38; atomic wt: 87.62; valency: 2; relative density: 2.54; melting pt: 769°C; boiling pt: 1384°C

strontium

/ strŏn′chē-əm,-tē-əm /

1. A soft, silvery metallic element of the alkaline-earth group that occurs naturally only as a sulfate or carbonate. One of its isotopes is used in the radiometric dating of rocks. Because strontium salts burn with a red flame, they are used to make fireworks and signal flares. Atomic number 38; atomic weight 87.62; melting point 777°C; boiling point 1,382°C; specific gravity 2.54; valence 2.
2. See Periodic Table

Other Words From

• stron·tic [stron, -tik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of strontium¹

First recorded in 1800–10; stront(ia) + -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of strontium¹

C19: from New Latin, from strontian

Example Sentences

Instead, their foundation is pancake-like structures of super-chilled strontium atoms.

From Popular-Science

When people eat and drink in a specific area for a long time, their teeth absorb a small amount of strontium, an element that leaches out of the rocky ground into food and drinking water.

From MIT Technology Review

He and colleagues first boiled a lump of strontium metal and channeled that vapor down a tube.

From Science News

Using a second laser, the researchers knocked an electron off each atom, creating a plasma of negatively charged electrons and positive strontium ions.

From Science News

I placed the steel tank near the cage, uncoiled the hose attachment, unscrewed the top, and dumped in the salts of strontium.

From Project Gutenberg

In the absence of baryta or lime it is filtered off, and weighed as strontium carbonate, which contains 70.17 per cent.

From Project Gutenberg

The solution contains the barium as baric chloride mixed, perhaps, with salts of strontium or lime.

From Project Gutenberg

In this last case it may be examined for barium and strontium, the former of which will rarely be present.

From Project Gutenberg

It was established that strontium-90 and cesium-137, important in fallout on land, enter the marine cycles only in minute amounts.

From Project Gutenberg