strontium

Everyday

1. Strontium is a soft, silvery metal, a chemical element with the symbol Sr and atomic number 38. tree →
2. Strontium compounds give fireworks and flares a bright red colour. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on elements and the periodic table it is in the same group as calcium and magnesium. Fireworks are a fun example: strontium makes red, copper makes blue, barium makes green, sodium makes yellow. It is named after Strontian, a village in Scotland where it was found. A radioactive kind, strontium-90, is dangerous and was released by nuclear tests and accidents. Phrases: «strontium salts», «strontium-90».

Examples

• Strontium makes fireworks burn bright red. tree →
• The symbol for strontium is Sr. tree →
• Strontium was named after a village in Scotland. tree →
• Strontium is a metal in the same group as calcium. tree →
• Red emergency flares contain strontium. tree →
• Strontium-90 is a dangerous radioactive form. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Said «STRON-tee-um» or «STRON-shum». Chemical symbol Sr with a small r. Ordinary strontium is not radioactive; only some kinds (isotopes) are.