Strontium (Sr) Description
Strontium is a malleable, silvery-white, or yellowish alkaline earth metal. Naturally occurring strontium consists of four stable isotopes, namely Sr-84, Sr-86, Sr-87, and Sr-88, and is predominantly found in the minerals celestite and strontianite.
Similar to other alkali metals, strontium exhibits high chemical reactivity and interacts with both air and water. It ignites with a vivid red flame when exposed to air. Upon contact with water, strontium releases hydrogen gas and strontium hydroxide, which is a potent irritant.
Strontium (Sr) Applications
Strontium carbonate, nitrate, and perchlorate are employed in the production of fireworks to generate a deep red flame color. An alloy composed of magnesium and strontium exhibits strong pyrophoric properties and is utilized in fireworks for incendiary and flare compounds. Strontium is incorporated into copper and several of its alloys, as well as into lead alloy batteries, and is employed for the desulfurization of cast iron, copper, and steel, and for the reduction of uranium.
Strontium alloys with tin and lead are utilized for casting the conductors of accumulator batteries. Strontium and cadmium alloys are used in the anodes of battery cells. Hard ferrites of strontium are extensively employed as materials for the production of permanent magnets.
Strontium uranate plays a crucial role in hydrogen production via the thermochemical method (atomic hydrogen energy), and processes are being developed for uranium fission in strontium urinate to generate heat in the water breakdown into hydrogen and oxygen.
Strontium oxide is a component in superconductive ceramics. In the solid solution of the oxides of other alkali earth metals – barium and calcium (BaO, CaO) – it is used as an active layer of indirectly heated cathodes in vacuum electronic devices. Strontium fluoride is used as a component of solid-state fluorine batteries with high energy capacity and energy density.
Strontium (Sr) Specification
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Molecular Weight (g/mol.)
|
87.62
|
Melting point
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777°C, 1431°F, 1050 K
|
|
Heat of Fusion (cal/g-atom)
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2.1
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Boiling point
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1377°C, 2511°F, 1650 K
|
|
Specific Heat @25°C (cal/g-°C)
|
0.176
|
Density (g cm−3)
|
2.64
|
|
Atomic number
|
38
|
Relative atomic mass
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87.62
|
|
State at 20°C
|
Solid
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Key isotopes
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86Sr, 87Sr, 88Sr
|
|
Electron configuration
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[Kr] 5s2
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CAS number
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7440-24-6
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