Strontium (Sr) Fun Facts

38 Sr
Superhero Identity

"The Red Rocket, the hero who paints the night sky with a brilliant red glare."

The true essence of Strontium (Sr) on the molecular frontier.

Appearance

Strontium is a soft, silvery-yellowish, reactive metal.

Everyday Connection

Strontium is found in the bright red color in fireworks and emergency flares.

In Pop Culture

Strontium-90 is a major radioactive isotope featured in post-apocalyptic fiction as a component of nuclear fallout.

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Did You Know?

1

The brilliant, intense red color of fireworks, flares, and emergency signals is produced by burning strontium compounds.

2

The radioactive isotope strontium-90 is a dangerous component of nuclear fallout because the body can absorb it into bones, mistaking it for calcium.

3

Strontium was discovered in minerals mined from a village in Scotland called Strontian, which is how the element got its name.

4

Some "glow-in-the-dark" paints and plastics use strontium aluminate, which absorbs light and then re-emits it slowly.

5

Certain types of toothpaste for sensitive teeth contain strontium chloride to help block the tiny tubes in the dentin.