DEFINITIONS
The
2019 WORD
OF THE YEAR is...

strontium 90

noun Chemistry.

a harmful radioactive isotope of strontium, produced in certain nuclear reactions and present in their fallout.

Content related to strontium 90

What’s The Difference: Average, Mean, Median, And ModeAs you probably know the terms average, mean, median, and mode are commonly confused with one another because they all describe ways to talk about sets of numbers.
READ MORE
Burpees And Other Exercises ExplainedAnytime is the right time to get in shape. There are a myriad of exercises out there you can try—some extreme, some simple.
READ MORE

Words nearby strontium 90

strongylosis, strontia, strontian, strontianite, strontium, strontium 90, strontium hydroxide, strontium monoxide, strontium unit, strook, strop

Origin of strontium 90

First recorded in 1950–55
Also called radiostrontium.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for strontium 90

  • Experiments and fallout observations show that strontium-90 does not penetrate soils deeply.

    Atoms, Nature, and Man|Neal O. Hines

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

    Atoms, Nature, and Man|Neal O. Hines

  • If this is true, strontium-90 may be contained in the deep currents and eventually will be brought again to the surface.

    Atoms, Nature, and Man|Neal O. Hines

  • Much attention has been devoted to strontium-90 and to its availability to man by deposit on plants and soils.

    Atoms, Nature, and Man|Neal O. Hines

Science definitions for strontium 90

strontium 90

A radioactive isotope of strontium having a mass number of 90 and a half-life of 28 years. Strontium 90 is the most dangerous component of the fallout from nuclear explosions because it is easily absorbed by the body. It is also used in medicine to treat cancer.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.