noun
strontium
STRAHN-tee-um/ˈstrɑːntiəm/
A soft, silvery alkaline-earth metal.
Strontium is a soft metal that reacts readily with water.
Etymology
Strontian supplies the element’s name because it was first found in mines there; -ium marks it as a metallic element. The name commemorates its discovery site rather than its properties.
In context
which corresponds with redder light. And these colors are fixed because the level spacings are fixed. Strontium, for example, produces red light because the energy gap between electron levels and strontium atoms corresponds to red wavelengths.
More examples
- Strontium compounds give fireworks a bright red color.
- A freshly cut piece of strontium has a silvery surface.
- Scientists test the soil for radioactive strontium.
Forms
strontium