Strontium oxide or strontia, SrO, is formed when strontium reacts with

oxygen Oxygen is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group (periodic table), group in the periodic table, a highly reactivity (chemistry), reactive nonmetal (chemistry), non ...

. Burning strontium in air results in a mixture of strontium oxide and strontium nitride. It also forms from the decomposition of strontium carbonate SrCO₃. It is a strongly basic oxide.

Uses

About 8% by weight of

cathode-ray tube A cathode-ray tube (CRT) is a vacuum tube containing one or more electron guns, which emit electron beams that are manipulated to display images on a phosphorescent screen. The images may represent electrical waveforms on an oscilloscope, a ...

s is strontium oxide, which has been the major use of strontium since 1970. Color televisions and other devices containing color cathode-ray tubes sold in the United States are required by law to use strontium in the faceplate to block

X-ray An X-ray (also known in many languages as Röntgen radiation) is a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than those of ultraviolet rays and longer than those of gamma rays. Roughly, X-rays have a wavelength ran ...

emission (these X-ray emitting TVs are no longer in production). Lead(II) oxide can be used in the neck and funnel, but causes discoloration when used in the faceplate.

Reactions

Elemental strontium is formed when strontium oxide is heated with

aluminium Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...

in a vacuum.

References

External links

Hansen, Tony, "SrO (Strontium Oxide, Strontia)", ceramic-materials.com
{{Authority control Strontium compounds Oxides Rock salt crystal structure