Strontium oxide Chemical Properties

Melting point:

2430°C

Boiling point:

3000°C

Density 

4.7 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)

Flash point:

3000°C

storage temp. 

Sealed in dry,Room Temperature

solubility 

Soluble in potassium hydroxide solution. Slightly soluble in alcohol. Insoluble in acetone and ether.

form 

Powder

Specific Gravity

4.7

color 

white

Water Solubility 

Soluble in fused potassium hydroxide. Insoluble in ether and acetone. Decomposes in water to Sr(OH){2} with evolution of heat.Slightly soluble in alcohol. Insoluble in acetone and ether.

Sensitive 

Moisture Sensitive

Merck 

14,8846

CAS DataBase Reference

1314-11-0(CAS DataBase Reference)

EPA Substance Registry System

Strontium oxide (SrO) (1314-11-0)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

C

Risk Statements 

14-34

Safety Statements 

26-30-36/37

RIDADR 

UN 3262 8/PG 2

WGK Germany 

3

TSCA 

Yes

HazardClass 

8

PackingGroup 

II

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

Strontium oxide Usage And Synthesis

Physical Properties

Grayish-white porous mass; cubic crystalline structure; refractive index 1.810; vaporizes above 3,000°C; reacts with water forming strontium hydroxide, Sr(OH)2 with evolution of heat; miscible with fused caustic potash; slightly soluble in alcohol; insoluble in acetone and ether.

Uses

Strontium oxide is an alkaline earth flux that melts at 4406°F(2430°C), but the substance begins its fluxing action above 1994°F(1090°C). Strontium oxide's properties are difficult to describe, so it's often compared to other alkaline earth oxides like calcium and barium oxides. It has similarities to both. Strontium oxide has fluxing properties and a strong color response like barium oxide, although not as intense. It adds strength and durability to a glaze like calcium oxide and it melts very slowly, thus increasing the melting range of a glaze.
Strontium oxide is often substituted for toxic barium oxide. A typical substitution is 0.75 grams of Strontium carbonate for 1 gram barium carbonate; keep in mind that it won't produce the same color response as barium oxide.
Strontium has a moderate viscosity and surface tension and a moderate to high expansion and contraction rate that's similar to calcium oxide.It's not volatile at ceramic temperatures, is slightly soluble,and has no known toxicity.
A slightly soluble source of strontium oxide is strontium carbonate, which usually contains some CaO.

Preparation

Strontium oxide is prepared by thermal decomposition of strontium carbonate, hydroxide, or nitrate:
SrCO3 → SrO + CO2
Sr(OH)2 → SrO + H2O
Sr(NO3)2 → SrO + N2O5

Chemical Properties

white to grayish white; reacts with water, forming Sr(OH)2, with evolution of heat; enthalpy of fusion 75.00kJ/mol [MER06] [CRC10]

Physical properties

Strontium oxide or strontia, SrO, is formed when Sr metal reacts with oxygen:
2Sr＋ O2→2SrO
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. It reacts with moisture forming the hydroxide and with carbon dioxide in the air to form the carbonate.

Uses

SrO is also used in medicine, pyrotechnics, pigments, greases, soaps, and as a chemical intermediate. It is also produced as high-purity strontium oxide rotatable sputtering targets with the highest possible density and smallest possible average grain sizes for use in semiconductor, photovoltaic, and coating applications by chemical vapor deposition and physical vapor deposition and optical applications.One of the reasons why rare metals are restrained from wide use in production is their high cost.

Uses

Strontium oxide is used as a flux in the making of glass for television tubes in place of barium oxide [CAS: 1304-28-5] BaO.

Uses

manufacture of strontium salts.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Strontium oxide(1314-11-0)Related Product Information

• Strontium hydroxide
• Tetraterbium heptaoxide
• TITANIUM DIOXIDE
• Praseodymium oxide
• Rhodium oxide
• MANGANESE (III) OXIDE
• Europium Oxide
• COPPER CHROMITE
• Cobalt oxide
• Gadolinium oxide
• Titanium dioxide
• Zirconium dioxide
• Cobalt oxide
• Erbium(III) oxide
• Zinc oxide
• Lead monoxide
• DIETHYLPHOSPHINE OXIDE
• Nickel oxide