Strontium

Strontium 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s2; [Kr] 5s2 Atomic Number-38; Atomic Mass-87.62 amu

Objective

Being Strontium, I can do many different jobs and can be quite good at them. But, I'm best when used to produce color for television cathode ray tubes. Without me, you wouldn't have any color on the screen and x-ray emissions would not be able to be contained. Ideally, the position I would like to acquire would be to have a higher status in the business than Barium or Calcium. They have many similar properties to me, including similar physical and chemical properties, but I have a higher value than either of them. I cost much more to maintain than Barium or Calcium, and there for can do much more making me suitable for a higher position in the company. I was found in 1790 in Strontian, Scotland by Adair Crawford. He accidentally found me in an ore mine. But it wasn't until 1808 that Sir Humphry Davy isolated me by using electrolysis of a mixture that contained mercuric oxide and strontium chloride.

Honors and Awards

One of the many things I'm known for are the uses of my many different isotopes. They have many different properties, and some are more dangerous than others. The most helpful example of my isotopes is Isotope Sr89. This isotope is used in the treatment of bone cancer, where as Isotope Sr90 will cause various diseases if absorbed by the body, especially in the bone. Sr89 is an artificial radioisotope that can be used when treating bone cancers. I can greatly help patients feel better from painful tumors that are all over the inside of their body. I can be made into a chloride salt, which dissolves in water and put into a saline bag.

Experiences and Skills

I have a lot of experience as an element and am eligible for many different positions, making me ideal for the job. Past experiences include being used in producing ferrite magnets (extremely magnetic magnets), and I can also be used in refining zinc. One of my greatest accomplishments was that I was the reason the world's most accurate atomic clock worked. This atomic clock used my atoms to perfectly create a counter that drops down one second in every 200 million years. Other past jobs comprise of salts being made out of me which used in fireworks to give off a brilliant crimson color, and also can be used in glow in the dark paints. As you can see, I'm the ideal element based on all of my different skills and experiences.

References

Some of my good friends, Chlorine and Oxygen, are only a few of the elements I work with well that decided to reference me. Chlorine and I have a long history together, and one project we worked on together to create Strontium Chloride. When we are mixed together, we are used in tooth pastes like Sensodyne and others that help relieve and prevent tooth sensitivity. Oxygen, another colleague of mine, has worked with me to improve pottery glazes and give them a glossier finish. It improves the overall quality of the final piece. I'm also extremely reactive when I'm placed in water to the point where my properties will change once I am dropped into it. It changes from a soft solid element to an even softer element.

Citations

http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/sr.htm http://www.facts-about.org.uk/science-element-strontium.htm http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/strontium.htm http://www.periodictable.com/Elements/038/index.wt.html http://www.chemicool.com/elements/strontium.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strontium

Victoria Bellmay Mrs. Reese Honors Chemistry 2 December 2009