Strontium is the chemical name for this element. The element strontium has an atomic number of 38 and a mass of 87.62 g.mol-1. Strontium is an alkaline earth metal by nature. The electrical structure of the Sr element gives it certain unique features and makes it very reactive. It is a yellowish and silver-white alkaline earth metal. A black oxide coating is formed when the metal reacts with air. The Sr element is physically and chemically similar to its periodic table neighbours, calcium, and barium. In 1790, Adair Crawford and William Cruikshank discovered strontium together.
| Table of Content |
| Symbol | Sr |
| Atomic Number | 38 |
| Atomic Mass | 87.62 g.mol -1 |
| Discovered by | Adair Crawford |
| Group | 2 |
| Period | 5 |
| Block | S |
| Electronic Configuration | [Kr] 5s2 |
| Melting Point | 777°C, 1431°F, 1050 K |
| Boiling Point | 1377°C, 2511°F, 1650 K |
| Isotopes | 86Sr, 87Sr, 88Sr |
Chemical Properties of Strontium
Strontium has a very reactive chemical nature. Strontium is in group 2 of the periodic table. It has a melting point of 777 degrees Celsius, 1431 degrees Fahrenheit, or 1050 degrees Kelvin. Period five element strontium has a boiling point of 1377°C (2511°F) or 1650 K. The Sr element (where Sr is the chemical symbol for Strontium) has a density of 2.64 g cm3 and is found in the periodic table's blocks. Strontium has an atomic number of 38 and a relative atomic mass of 87.62. 84Sr, 86Sr, 87Sr, and 88Sr are the four isotopes of the metal. The electronic configuration of strontium is Kr 5s, and the CAS number is 7440-24-6.
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Strontium Detailed Video Explanation:
Other Properties of Strontium
Following are some Other Properties of Strontium:
- Chemically, strontium is most comparable to the heavier alkali earth elements, such as calcium and barium.
- Strontium is a metallic lithophile element.
- The size of the Sr2+ ion (118 pm) is halfway between that of Ca2+ (100 pm) and K+ (138 pm), and it can be found in a number of rock-forming minerals such as K-feldspar, gypsum, plagioclase, and, most notably, calcite and dolomite, which are the principal sources of Sr in stream water.
- In barite BaSO4 and witherite BaCO3, there is some replacement for Ba.
- Sr minerals are generally uncommon, but strontian SrCO3 and celestite SrSO4 are commonly found in hydrothermal deposits and pegmatites.
- Strontium is strongly linked to calcium and is found in calcareous rocks, particularly when combined with Sr, Mg, and Ba. Bedrock geology may be conducive for skarn mineralization if Ca and other elements indicate calcareous rocks and other elements (e.g., REEs) imply felsic intrusive.
Uses of Strontium
Following are the Uses of Strontium:
- Despite the fact that strontium is not regarded an essential element and has no recognised biological function, it is found in all living species.
- The characteristics of strontium are similar to those of calcium; it is taken up and preferentially placed in bones, just like calcium.
- In humans, depending on the amount taken up, strontium can have both helpful and harmful consequences [854].
- In Europe and Australia, strontium ranelate (C12H6N2O8SSr2), a pharmacologic agent used to treat osteoporosis, is approved for usage, but not in Canada or the United States. Strontium citrate [855] was found to have a similar effectiveness in delivering strontium to animal bones.
- The most major application of strontium is in the glass manufacturing of cathode ray tubes used in colour television. However, as the use of CRTs in televisions decreases, the use of Sr element is rapidly decreasing. As a result, the manner Strontium is mined and purified has changed dramatically.
- Strontium is used to make Strontium Carbonate and other Strontium salts that give fireworks their red colour. In a flame test, this feature also aids in distinguishing Strontium from other elements. The production of fireworks accounts for 5% of total global output.
Interesting Facts about Strontium
Following are some Interesting Facts about Strontium:
- Adair Crawford was the first to discover strontium in the mineral strontianite in 1790.
- Strontium produced from ore mined near the Scottish village of Strontian was referred to by Crawford as "a new variety of earth."
- Sir Humphry Davy extracted strontium from the mineral strontianite in 1808.
- Strontium is a silvery white metal that turns yellow when exposed to air.
- Strontium is a soft alkaline earth metal similar to calcium.
- When strontium is mixed with water, it reacts quickly to produce hydrogen gas and strontium hydroxide.
- During the years preceding up to World War I, up to 150,000 tonnes of strontium were utilized per year. It was used to make sugar from sugar beets back then.
- In mineral or compound form, strontium is the fifteenth most frequent element in the Earth's crust. The Earth's crust contains about 360 parts per million of strontium.
- China, along with Spain, Mexico, and a few other countries, has traditionally been the leading producer of strontium. Every year, almost 300,000 tonnes of strontium are generated around the world.
Points to Remember
Following are some important points:
- The element strontium has an atomic number of 38 and a mass of 87.62 g.mol-1.
- In 1790, Adair Crawford and William Cruikshank discovered strontium together.
- It has a melting point of 777 degrees Celsius, 1431 degrees Fahrenheit, or 1050 degrees Kelvin.
- 84Sr, 86Sr, 87Sr, and 88Sr are the four isotopes of the metal.
- Strontium is strongly linked to calcium and is found in calcareous rocks, particularly when combined with Sr, Mg, and Ba.
Sample Questions
Ques: What foods have a lot of strontium?
Ans: Strontium is a mineral that can be found in soil and seawater. It's mostly found in shellfish, but minor amounts can also be found in whole milk, wheat bran, pork, poultry, and root vegetables.
Read more : Hydrogen Chloride
Ques: Are there any negative effects to strontium?
Ans: Some people may experience adverse effects such as stomach pain, diarrhoea, and headache from strontium ranelate. Taking extremely large dosages of strontium by mouth could be dangerous. Strontium in high amounts has the potential to harm the bones.
Ques: Strontium is known as a bone seeker. Why?
Ans: In the human body, strontium-90 functions similarly to calcium, accumulating deposits in bone and blood-producing tissue (bone marrow). As a result, strontium-90 is known as a "bone seeker," and it raises the risk of various diseases, including bone cancer, soft tissue cancer near the bone, and leukaemia.
Read more : Coupling Reaction
Ques: What are Alkaline Earth Metals, and what do they do?
Ans: Alkaline earth metals are atoms that have their s-sub shell filled with their two valence electrons. [Noble gas] ns2 is their electrical configuration in general. They are also known as group two metals since they are found in the second column of the periodic table. Beryllium (Be), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr), Barium (Ba), and Radium are examples of alkaline earth metals (Ra).
Ques: What is strontium carbide and what are its applications?
Ans: Strontium is a chemical element that belongs to the second major group of the periodic table. Metal carbides are metals that contain one or more carbon ions. SrC2 is the formula for Strontium Carbide. Carbide compounds are exceptionally hard, refractory, and resistant to wear, corrosion, and heat, which makes them ideal choices for drill and tool coatings. They frequently have additional desirable features, such as electrical conductivity, limited thermal expansion, and abrasiveness, in addition to toughness.
Read more : Acid Bases & Salts
Ques: What is the chemical formula for strontium chloride?
Ans: Strontium chloride (SrCl2) is a strontium-chloride salt. It's a ‘standard' salt that forms neutral aqueous solutions. This salt, like all strontium compounds, burns bright red and is widely used in fireworks to achieve that effect. It has chemical characteristics that are halfway between those of more harmful barium chloride and less toxic calcium chloride.
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