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strontium
strontium definition
stron·tium (strän′s̸həm, -s̸hē əm; stränt′ē əm)
noun
a pale-yellow, metallic chemical element, one of the alkaline-earth metals, resembling calcium in properties and found only in combination: strontium compounds burn with a red flame and are used in fireworks: symbol, Sr; at. no., 38: a deadly radioactive isotope (strontium 90) is present in the fallout of nuclear explosions
Etymology: ModL: so named (1808) by Sir Humphry Davy, who first isolated it < strontia + -ium
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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