Strontium chloride (SrCl₂) is a salt of strontium and chlorine. It is ionic and water-soluble. It is less toxic than barium chloride, though more toxic than calcium chloride. It emits a bright red colour when heated in a flame.

Chemical Properties

Strontium chloride is a typical ionic metal salt, and it can be used as a source of other strontium compounds such as strontium chromate:

SrCl₂(aq) + Na₂CrO₄ (aq) → SrCrO₄(s) + 2 NaCl(aq)

SrCl₂ always acts as a simple salt, and it is completely neutral in solution.

Preparation

Strontium chloride can be prepared from strontium hydroxide or strontium carbonate reacting with hydrochloric acid:

Sr(OH)₂ (aq) + 2 HCl(aq) → SrCl₂(aq) + 2 H₂O(aq)

It can also be prepared by the union of the elements, strontium and chlorine.

Uses

There are no major uses for strontium chloride, though it can be used to prepare less common compounds of strontium. Like barium chloride it can be used to test for sulfate ion, though not at such low concentration, since strontium sulfate is more soluble than barium sulfate.

SrCl₂(aq) + SO₄^2-(aq) → SrSO₄(s) + 2 Cl^-(aq)

Precautions

Although much less toxic than barium chloride, strontium chloride should still be handled with care.

Suppliers/Manufacturers

VWR: http://www.vwr.com/index.htm Strem: http://www.strem.com/code/index.ghc Alfa: http://www.alfa.com/alf/index.htm Aldrich: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com Fisher: https://www1.fishersci.com/index.jsp

References

1. N. N. Greenwood, A. Earnshaw, Chemistry of the Elements, Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK, 1984.
2. Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 71st edition, CRC Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1990.
3. The Merck Index, 7th edition, Merck & Co., Rahway, New Jersey, 1960.