strontium [Sr]

Introduction

From Strontian, the town in Scotland where it was discovered. Discovered by Irish scientist Adair Crawford in 1790.

Occurrence

• obtained from ores celestite & strontianite
• occurs only in combined form
• several radioactive isotopes, including Sr-90

Characteristics

• silvery-yellow, soft malleable ductile metallic element
• forms divalent cation Sr+2
  • metabolized in the body much like Ca+2
  • Sr+2 can replace Ca+2 in bone tissue (see Sr-90 & strontium ranelate)

Uses

• color TV tubes
• crimson fireworks
• production of some ferrites
• radiopharmaceutical (strontium-89)

More general terms

• alkaline earth metal
• trace element
• metabolic agent (metabolic modifier)

More specific terms

• strontium-89
• strontium-90 [90]Sr

Additional terms

• periodic table
• strontium ranelate (Protelos)

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=23955
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=104798