
Strontium element (Sr) is in group 2 and period 5 of a periodic table. Strontium is in the s-block and it is classified as an alkaline earth metal on the periodic table.
There is a lot more information related to strontium which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.
So let’s dive right into it!
Table of contents
- Strontium element (Information Table)
- Strontium element in Periodic table
- Facts about Strontium
- Properties of Strontium
- Uses of Strontium
Strontium Element (Information Table)
The important data related to strontium element is given in the table below.
Appearance of strontium | Silvery surface with yellow tint |
Atomic number of strontium | 38 |
Symbol of strontium | Sr |
Atomic mass of strontium | 87.62 u |
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in strontium | Protons: 38, Neutrons: 50, Electrons: 38 |
State of strontium (at STP) | Solid |
Group number of strontium in periodic table | 2 |
Period number of strontium in periodic table | 5 |
Block of strontium in periodic table | s-block |
Category of strontium | Alkaline earth metals |
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in strontium | 2, 8, 18, 8, 2 |
Electron configuration of strontium | [Kr] 5s2 |
Orbital diagram of strontium | ![]() |
Valence electrons in strontium | 2 |
Electronegativity of strontium (on pauling scale) | 0.95 |
Atomic radius of strontium (van der Waals radius) | 249 picometers |
Density of strontium | 2.63 g/cm3 |
1st ionization energy of strontium | 5.695 eV |
Main isotope of strontium | 88Sr |
Melting point of strontium | 1050 K or 777 °C or 1431 °F |
Boiling point of strontium | 1650 K or 1377 °C or 2511 °F |
Crystal structure of strontium | Face Centered Cubic (FCC) |
Discovery of strontium | By William Cruickshank in 1787 |
Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).
Strontium element in Periodic table
The Strontium element (Sr) has the atomic number 38 and is located in group 2 and period 5. Strontium is in solid state at STP and it is classified as an alkaline earth metal on the periodic table.
H | He | ||||||||||||||||
Li | Be | B | C | N | O | F | Ne | ||||||||||
Na | Mg | Al | Si | P | S | Cl | Ar | ||||||||||
K | Ca | Sc | Ti | V | Cr | Mn | Fe | Co | Ni | Cu | Zn | Ga | Ge | As | Se | Br | Kr |
Rb | Sr | Y | Zr | Nb | Mo | Tc | Ru | Rh | Pd | Ag | Cd | In | Sn | Sb | Te | I | Xe |
Cs | Ba | La* | Hf | Ta | W | Re | Os | Ir | Pt | Au | Hg | Tl | Pb | Bi | Po | At | Rn |
Fr | Ra | Ac** | Rf | Db | Sg | Bh | Hs | Mt | Ds | Rg | Cn | Nh | Fl | Mc | Lv | Ts | Og |
*Ce | Pr | Nd | Pm | Sm | Eu | Gd | Tb | Dy | Ho | Er | Tm | Yb | Lu | ||||
**Th | Pa | U | Np | Pu | Am | Cm | Bk | Cf | Es | Fm | Md | No | Lr |
Facts about strontium
Here are a few interesting facts about the strontium element.
- Strontium is the 15th most abundant element present in the earth’s crust.
- The concentration of strontium in the earth’s crust is around 360 ppm.
- Around 3 lakh tons of strontium is produced annually in the entire world.
- Strontium is a reactive metal and hence it is kept in the mineral oil or kerosene.
- Strontianite and Celestite are the two ores from which most of the strontium is obtained.
- The leading producers of strontium are China and Spain.
Properties of strontium
Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of strontium.
Physical properties of strontium
- Strontium is a soft metal and it has a silvery surface with a yellowish tint.
- Strontium has an atomic mass 87.62 u and its density is 2.63 g/cm3.
- Strontium has stable isotopes as well as radioactive isotopes, and out of these isotopes, the most abundant isotope is 88Sr (which has an abundance of 82.5%).
- The melting point and boiling point of strontium is 1050 K and 1650 K respectively.
Chemical properties of strontium
- Strontium is reactive metal and hence it is always found as a compound with other elements in the earth’s crust.
- Strontium burns in the air with a bright red flame.
- Strontium reacts with water to form strontium hydroxide and liberates hydrogen gas.
Uses of strontium
Here are some uses of the strontium element.
- Strontium is used in flares as well as fireworks because it burns with a bright red flame.
- Strontium titanate is used in gemstones as it has a high refractive index.
- Strontium chloride hexahydrate is used in toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
- The radioactive isotope of strontium (89Sr) is used in treating bone cancer.
- Strontium aluminate is used in toys that glow in dark (because it has a property to glow in dark).
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