strontium

American  

[stron-shee-uhm, -shuhm, -tee-uhm] / ˈstrɒn ʃi əm, -ʃəm, -ti əm /

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 British  

/ 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 Scientific  

/ 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 Word Forms

• strontic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of strontium

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

strontium

Carbon and nitrogen isotopes reveal long-term diet, while strontium isotopes indicate where a person lived and whether they moved during their lifetime.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 21, 2026

The researchers were able to measure carbon, oxygen, strontium and lead isotopes from the tooth which revealed changes to the animal's diet with the seasons and showed seasonal food sources came from different geological areas.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2025

The researchers examined the thermal performance of a TCM reactor powered by strontium chloride, which gives off heat as it reacts with water vapor in the air.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 19, 2024

Whether its lead from old buildings, arsenic from contaminated food or strontium fallout from a nuclear explosion, heavy metals that enter the body pose a serious health threat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2024

Americans dutifully adopted the new term, but many British users disliked aluminum, pointing out that it disrupted the –ium pattern established by sodium, calcium, and strontium, so they added a vowel and syllable.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson