The strontium is a chemical element, of symbol Sr and Atomic number 38.

Strontium, like the Calcium, is a alkaline-earth. Etymology of the name: comes from Strontian, village of Scotland.

Strontium was isolated by Sir Humphry Davy (England) in 1808 after its oxide was identified in the ore of a mine close to Strontian, the Strontianite SrCO₃ in 1790 by Thomas Charles Hope. This one had been based on work of William Cruikshank and Adair Crawford, the first to postulate the existence of an unknown element in strontianite.

It is a metal soft, malleable, gray-yellow. With the contact with the air it forms a protective oxide film. It ignites and burns easily in the air and reacts with water.

Strontium is in ores such as the Célestine SrSO₄ and the Strontianite SrCO₃. But it is rare to find some in a pure state. The strontium rate present in the earth's crust is weak (0,034%).

Uses

• red Dye: It is used in varnishes and glazes for ceramics and in the pigments, the Fireworks and the rockets of distress to give a red color.

• Its SrCO₃ carbonate is added to glass of the flagstone of the cathode tubes color to slow down the produced X-rays.

• Also, strontium the oxide, SrO strontia, is used to extract sugar from the beet molasses.

• the measurement of the isotopic reports/ratios of strontium and the Rubidium in certain rocks allows them absolute Datation.

See also: Dating by the couple Rubidium-Strontium

Dangerous and useful

Its isotope 90 is one of the products of Fission the (atomic explosions, nuclear reactor) most dangerous. Indeed, the experiments of Sydney Ringer showed, there is more than one hundred years, that strontium replaced calcium in the bones. Moreover its half-life is long: 28 years.

Strontium is absorbed by the digestive tract by the same mechanisms as calcium but the absorption of calcium is preferential.

The effects of strontium on the bone can be summarized as follows:

• taken to replace calcium or greater quantity than calcium, strontium causes osseous disorders pointing out those of the Rachitisme and a Hypocalcémie.
• taken at the same time as calcium, it supports the Histogenèse and could be opposed to the development Ostéoporose.

Drugs containing strontium and calcium are currently being studied for the prevention of the osteoporosis.

It would be essential to regularly provide strontium to raised fish of reef out of aquarium…

Precautions

It oxidizes quickly with the air and reacts violently with water to produce strontium hydroxide, corrodent, and hydrogen.

See too

Simple: Strontium

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