strontium hydroxide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “strontium hydroxide” mean?
A white, crystalline, alkaline compound with the chemical formula Sr(OH)₂, formed by reacting strontium oxide with water.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A white, crystalline, alkaline compound with the chemical formula Sr(OH)₂, formed by reacting strontium oxide with water.
Used primarily in industrial applications as a precursor for other strontium compounds, and historically in sugar refining to separate crystallizable sugars from molasses.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical differences. Pronunciation of 'strontium' may show slight variation in the first vowel.
Connotations
None beyond its technical/scientific meaning.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, confined to chemistry, industrial processes, and historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “strontium hydroxide” in a Sentence
STRONTIUM HYDROXIDE + verb (e.g., reacts, precipitates, dissolves)verb (e.g., add, form, prepare) + STRONTIUM HYDROXIDESTRONTIUM HYDROXIDE + preposition (e.g., in water, with acid)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “strontium hydroxide” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The strontium hydroxide solution was carefully titrated.
American English
- The strontium hydroxide precipitate was filtered and dried.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Might appear in procurement or technical specifications for chemical supplies.
Academic
Core usage in chemistry textbooks, research papers on alkaline earth metal chemistry, and lab manuals.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in chemical engineering, industrial process descriptions, and material safety data sheets (MSDS).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “strontium hydroxide”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “strontium hydroxide”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strontium hydroxide”
- Mispronouncing as 'stron-chum'.
- Misspelling as 'strontim hydroxide' or 'strontium hydroxied'.
- Confusing its solubility (it is moderately soluble) with the insolubility of some other metal hydroxides.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is corrosive and can cause severe burns to skin and eyes. It requires proper safety handling like gloves and goggles.
They are chemically similar alkaline earth metal hydroxides, but strontium hydroxide is more soluble in water and has a higher molecular weight.
No, it is not found naturally. It is synthesised industrially from strontium minerals like celestite.
It was historically important in the 19th and early 20th centuries for the commercial production of sugar from beet molasses.
A white, crystalline, alkaline compound with the chemical formula Sr(OH)₂, formed by reacting strontium oxide with water.
Strontium hydroxide is usually technical/scientific in register.
Strontium hydroxide: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstrɒn.ti.əm haɪˈdrɒk.saɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstrɑːn.ti.əm haɪˈdrɑːk.saɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'strong team' (sounds like stron-tium) of hydroxide ions (OH-) working for the element strontium (Sr).
Conceptual Metaphor
None applicable for this technical term.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary industrial use historically associated with strontium hydroxide?