strontium
Noun
Meaning
A metallic element of the calcium group, always naturally occurring combined, as in the minerals strontianite, celestite, etc. It is isolated as a yellowish metal, somewhat malleable but harder than calcium. It is chiefly employed (as in the nitrate) to color pyrotechnic flames red. Symbol Sr. Atomic weight 87.3.
A radioactive isotope of strontium produced by certain nuclear reactions, and constituting one of the prominent harmful components of radioactive fallout from nuclear explosions; also called radiostrontium. It has a half-life of 28 years.
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It is kept under a liquid hydrocarbon such as mineral oil or kerosene to prevent oxidation ; freshly exposed strontium metal rapidly turns a yellowish color with the formation of the oxide.
Because the elements are chemically similar, the stable strontium isotopes might not pose a significant health threat — in fact, the levels found naturally may actually be beneficial (see below).
Brighter atoms are strontium and darker ones are titanium.
From strontium onward, the alkali earth metals become denser with increasing atomic mass.
Half the increase in bone density (measured by X-ray densitometry) is discounted because strontium has greater atomic density than calcium, while the other half is a true increase in bone mass.
In 10 half-lives (or about 500 days) 99.9% of the radioactive strontium will decay.