Strontium (Sr)

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Strontium 38Sr87.62


Strontium was recognized as an element in 1790 by A. Crawford at Edingburg, Schottland. Isolated in 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy at London, England.

[Named after Strontian, Scotland]

French: strontium
English: strontium
Italian: stronzio
Spanish: estroncio


Description: Strontium is a silvery-white, relatively soft metal that is obtained by heating strontium oxide (SrO) with alukinium metal. The bulk metal is portected by an oxide film, but it will burn in air if ignited, and is attacked by water. Strontium is used in special glass for televisions and VDUs, and the red colour of foreworks and flars is produced by strontium salts.

  


Further Materials properties

 

Crystal structure:

(cell dimensions/pm), space group, 
α-Sr f.c.c. (a=608.49) Fm3m
β-Sr h.c.p. (a=432, c=706), P63/mmc
γ-Sr b.c.c. (a=485), Im3m
T (α -> β) = 506 K, T (β -> γ) = 813 K

X-ray diffractions mass absorption coefficients: CuKa 125 (µ/r) / cm2g-1
MoKa 95.0 (µ/r) / cm2g-1
Neutron scattering length: 0.702 b/10-12 cm
Thermal neutron capture cross-section: 1.28 sa / barns
Density: 2540 kg/m-3 [293 K]; 2375 [liquid at m.p.]
Melting point: 768.85°C / 1042°K
Boiling point: 1383.85°C / 1657°K
Molar volume: 34.50 cm3
Thermal conductivity: 35.3 [300 K] W m-1K-1
Coefficient of linear thermal expansion: 23 x 10-6 K-1
Electrical resistivity: 23.0 x 10-8 [295 K] Ωm
Mass magnetic susceptibility: +1.32 x 10-8(s) kg-1m3
Radi: Sr2+ 127; atomic 215 (α-form); covalent 192
Electronegativity: 0.95 (Pauling); 0.99 (Allred); 2.0 eV (absolute)
Effective nuclear charge: 2.85 (Slater); 6.07 (Clementi); 8.09 (Froese-Fischer)
Number of Isotopes (incl. nuclear isomers): 23
Isotope mass range: 79 -> 98

 

 


Biological data

 

Biological role: None.
Toxicity
Toxic intake: not regarded as toxic
Lethal intake: LD50 (chloride, oral, rat) = 2250 mg Kg-1
Hazards: Strontium resembles calcium in metabolism and behaviour and is absorbed by the body and stored in the skeleton. This also happens with radioactive 90Sr. which was produced by above-ground nuclear explosions in the 1950s and is widely disseminated in the environment.
Level in humans
Blood: 0.031 mg dm-3
Bone: 36 - 140 ppm
Liver: 0.05 - 0.36 ppm
Muscle: 0.12 - 0.35 ppm
Daily dietary intake: 0.8 - 5 mg 
Total mass of element in average
[70 kg] person:
320 mg

 

Geological data

 

Minerals:
MineralFormulaDensityHardnessCrystal apperance
Clestite*  SrSO4 3.97  3 - 3.5  orth., vit./ colourless-pale blue
Strontianite  SrCO3 3.76  3.5  orth., vit./ resinous colourless

Chief ores:  celestite, strontianite
World production:  137 000 (strontium ores) tonnes/year
Producing areas:  UK, Tunisia, Russia, Germany, Mexico, USA
Reserves:  n.a.
Specimen:  available as granules and pieces. Warning!

 

Abundances  
Sun: 790 (relative to H = 1 x 1012)
Earth's crust: 370 ppm
Seawater
Atlantic surface: 7.6 ppm
Atlantic deep: 7.7 ppm
Pacific surface: 7.6 ppm
Pacific deep: 7.7 ppm
Residence time: 4 x 10years
Classification: recycled
Oxidation state: II

  Source: Emsley, J. (1998) The Elements (3rd Edition)

Other sizes and specifications on request


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1 18
H
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