Strontium is a chemical element with the symbol Sr and atomic number 38. Its name comes from Strontian, a village in Scotland, where it was first discovered in 1790. The phonetic transcription of strontium can be represented as /ˈstrɒntiəm/, where the stress is on the first syllable. The "s" sound is followed by a "t" sound, then a "r" sound, and the "on" is pronounced as "ɒn". The "t" and "i" sounds are pronounced separately, while the "um" is pronounced as "əm".
Strontium is an atomic element with the symbol Sr and atomic number 38. It belongs to the alkaline earth metals group, found in the second column of the periodic table. Strontium is a soft, silvery-white metallic element that is highly reactive and easily oxidizes when exposed to air.
In nature, strontium is primarily obtained from the mineral celestite, but it can also be found in other minerals such as strontianite. The element is widely used in various applications, often in the form of compounds. Strontium compounds are commonly utilized in the production of fireworks, as they contribute to the vibrant red color seen during combustion. It is also employed in the manufacture of certain types of glass, ceramics, and pigments, imparting unique properties to these materials.
In the field of medicine, strontium ranelate, an organic strontium compound, has been used as a treatment for osteoporosis to improve bone density and reduce the risk of fractures. Additionally, strontium-90, a radioactive isotope of strontium, has been used in cancer therapies due to its ability to target cancer cells. This isotope emits beta radiation, which can destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.
Overall, strontium is an important element with diverse applications in industries such as pyrotechnics, materials science, and medicine due to its unique chemical properties and radioactivity in certain isotopes.
A metallic element, symbol Sr, atomic weight 86.62, of dark yellow color; some of its salts are used in medicine.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The metallic base of strontia.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "strontium" is derived from strontianite, a mineral name. Strontianite was first discovered in Strontian, a village in Scotland, in the late 18th century. The mineral was named after the village, which in turn gave rise to the name of the element strontium when it was isolated in 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy.