Strontian is the name of a village in Scotland. The mineral containing strontium was first discovered in this village, and the element is named after the village.
Strontium is a soft, silver-coloured metal. The element has several uses. Strontium blocks X-rays emitted by TV picture tubes. The element is used in paints that glow in the dark. In fireworks, certain brilliant red hues are produced with the help of strontium. It also plays an important role in tracing the origins of species.
Many scientists have richly contributed to the discovery of strontium. However, it was Humphry Davy who isolated the element for the first time. He achieved the feat in 1808 by means of electrolysis.
Strontium is the 16th most abundant element in the earth’s crust. It is said that German sugar industry used up to 150,000 tonnes of strontium per year leading up to World War I. Today China is the leading producer of strontium while other countries like Spain, Argentina and Mexico present a stiff competition to the topper. Strontium has the atomic number 38, and it is represented as Sr.
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