Strontium:

Symbol: Sr
Atomic Number: 38
Atomic Weight: 87.62

From Strontian, Scotland; discovered 1790. A rare earth element which is a sort of evil alter ego of life-supporting calcium. Radioactive strontium 90 is present in atomic fallout. It is absorbed by bone tissue in place of calcium, and enough of it destroys marrow and can cause cancer. - Time-Life Science Series.

Strontium
Symbol: Sr
Atomic Number: 38
Atomic Weight: 87.62
Boiling Point: 1655 K
Melting Point: 1042 K
Density at 300K: 2.45 g/cm³
Covalent radius: 1.44
Atomic radius: 2.09
Atomic volume: 15.0 cm³/mol
First ionization potental: 6.54 V
Specific heat capacity: 0.568 Jg^-1K^-1
Thermal conductivity: 15.8 Wm^-1K^-1
Electrical conductivity: 1.5 10⁶Ω^-1m^-1
Heat of fusion: 16.11 kJ/mol
Heat of vaporization: 304.80 kJ/mol
Electronegativity: 1.36 (Pauling's)

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Strontium-85 is an isotope that is commonly used in nuclear medicine for studying bone structure, metabolism and is useful for diagnosing bone lesions, since it is chemically similar to Calcium. One mode of administration is injection of a compound, Strontium-85 Chloride, into the bloodstream which is mostly absorbed by the bones in a matter of hours.

Using procedures like Radionuclide angiography and Tissue Phase Imaging, doctors can image areas of the bone structure that are metabolizing much more rapidly than others, thus pinpointing where cases of bone cancer (Osteosarcoma) or benign bone tumors (Osteoid Osteoma) have occured.

Strontium-85 has a half-life of 64.84 days and decays through electron capture.

Stron"ti*um (?), n. [NL. See Strontia.] Chem.

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.

<-- Strontium-90.

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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© Webster 1913.