Strontium nitrate

Strontium nitrate
IUPAC name Strontium nitrate
Identifiers
CAS number	10042-76-9 Y
ChemSpider	23231 Y
UNII	BDG873AQZL Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES [Sr+2].[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O
InChI InChI=1S/2NO3.Sr/c2*2-1(3)4;/q2*-1;+2 Y Key: DHEQXMRUPNDRPG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/2NO3.Sr/c2*2-1(3)4;/q2*-1;+2 Key: DHEQXMRUPNDRPG-UHFFFAOYAG
Properties
Molecular formula	Sr(NO3)2
Molar mass	211.63 g/mol
Appearance	white granular solid
Density	2.986 g/cm3 (anhydrous) 2.20 g/cm3 (tetrahydrate) [1]
Melting point	570 °C (anhydrous) 100 °C, decomp (tetrahydrate)
Boiling point	645 °C, decomp
Solubility in water	anhydrous: 71 g/100 mL (18 °C) 66 g/100 mL (20 °C) tetrahydrate: 60.4 g/100 mL (0 °C) 206 g/100 mL (100 °C)
Solubility	soluble in ammonia very slightly soluble in ethanol, acetone
Hazards
EU Index	Not listed
Main hazards	Irritant
Flash point	Non-flammable
Related compounds
Other anions	Strontium sulfate Strontium chloride
Other cations	Beryllium nitrate Magnesium nitrate Calcium nitrate Barium nitrate
Y nitrate (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Strontium nitrate is an inorganic compound with the formula Sr(NO₃)₂. This colourless solid is used as an colorant (red) in pyrotechnics.

Preparation

Strontium nitrate is typically generated by the reaction of nitric acid on strontium carbonate.^[2]

2 HNO₃ + SrCO₃ → Sr(NO₃)₂ + H₂O + CO₂

The reaction of nitric acid and strontium carbonate to form strontium nitrate

.

Uses

Like many other strontium salts, strontium nitrate is used to produce a rich red flame in fireworks and road flares. The oxidizing properties of this salt is advantageous in such applications.^[3]

Biochemistry

As a divalent ion with an ionic radius similar to that of Ca²⁺ (1.13 vs. 0.99 A, respectively), Sr²⁺ ions resembles calcium's ability to traverse calcium-selective ion channels and trigger neurotransmitter release from nerve endings. It is thus used in electrophysiology experiments.

References

1. ^ Pradyot Patnaik. Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals. McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN 0070494398
2. ^ Ward, R.; Osterheld, R. K.; Rosenstein, R. D. (1950), "Strontium Sulfide and Selenide Phosphors", Inorg. Synth. 3: 11–23, doi:10.1002/9780470132340.ch4 
3. ^ J. Paul MacMillan, Jai Won Park, Rolf Gerstenberg, Heinz Wagner, Karl Köhler, Peter Wallbrecht "Strontium and Strontium Compounds" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2002. doi:10.1002/14356007.a25_321