Strontium fluoride

Strontium fluoride is an inorganic, man-made compound consisting of two fluorine atoms and one strontium atom at a 120° bent shape. This insoluable compound is highly toxic and should not be ingested or inhaled. Those who handle strontium fluoride should take caution with eye protection and gloves. Strontium fluoride has high boiling and melting points and is not flammable. It can be made through electrosynthesis using fluorine gas combined with strontium chlorides or hydrofluoric acid. Strontium fluoride is used to coat lenses to transmit infrared waves and ultraviolet waves. This application is used with glasses, prism, windows, and other lenses. The element strontium was discovered in 1787 by William Cruickshank and Adair Crawford as strontium chloride and finally isolated in 1808 by Humphry Davy. The element fluorine was discovered in 1529 by Georgius Agricola and isolated in 1886 by Henri Moissan.

Properties
Strontium fluoride occurs as a white powder or a brittle, colorless crystal. It is not easily soluble, meaning it cannot dissolve in water, at 0.012 grams per 100 grams water at 27°C under normal conditions. It is poisonous if inhaled or ingested and can cause irritation to skin and eyes. Gloves and protective eyewear should always be worn when handling strontium fluoride. This compound has high boiling and melting point, at 2460°C (4460°F) and 1450°C (2642°F), respectively.

Synthesis
Strontium fluoride is a man-made compound produced through electrosynthesis using either fluorine gas or hydrofluoric acid and strontium chloride, resulting in strontium fluoride and chlorine.

SrCl2(s) + F2(g) → SrF2(s)

Uses
Strontium fluoride is mainly used in the optical field, most commonly coated onto lenses, including lenses used for glasses because of its ability to transmit ultraviolet and infrared waves. It is also used to make prisms and windows also for its transmittance abilities. Strontium fluoride is able to carry strontium-90 radioisotopes to radioisotope thermoelectric generators because of its superionic conductivity. As with most fluoride compounds, strontium fluoride is utilized when refining oil and producing pharmaceuticals.

History
Strontium was discovered in Strontian (meaning strong man), Scotland as strontianite (SrCO3) in 1787 by William Cruickshank and Adair Crawford in a lead mine. Its first name was strontianite, after the mineral, then switched to strontites by Thomas Charles Hope. During the reveal of its isolation in 1808, Humphry Davy renamed it strontium, to match the other alkaline metals. During the 1950s and 1960s, strontium-90 was used for nuclear weapon testing.

Fluorine was discovered in 1529 by Georgius Agricola to be used during smelting. Fluorite, its original name, consisted of calcium fluoride. The Latin word fluores, means to flow, and the Greek phthorios means destructive. Through electrolysis, Henri Moissan isolated fluorine in 1886.

Video
About the history of strontium

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How scientist pinpoint the location a human lived by calculating strontium levels in teeth

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