Countdown to Opening Night by the Elements: Number 38

Fearless is down to number 38 on his curious countdown to opening night through the chemical elements.  What’s he got in the lab for this one?...

Strontium

Strontium is a rather unassuming, silver-white or yellowish metal that looks rather common, at least at first sight.  But it is a highly reactive element, especially with oxygen and water (things you might find, say, at an ice rink).  In its powdered form it will ignite spontaneously in air, which makes it a valuable commodity (when combined with other elements) in fireworks.  And, in that application strontium gives off a deep red color as part of the show.  It occurs naturally only in compounds.

It is also referred to as a “bone-seeker” in that it behaves similarly to calcium, which when ingested is taken up in bones and bone marrow.  Its radioactive isotope, (referred to as “Strontium-90”) has a half-life of 28 years, and it decays into Yttrium. 

So, Strontium occurs naturally only in compounds, sort of like a defensive pair.  It’s highly reactive, especially in the presence of oxygen and water.  It is a rather common element, but it is uniquely a “bone-seeker.”  Sounds like a former journeyman defenseman who might be more than a bit feisty on the ice, who hits opponents so they feel it down to their bones, who has a teammate relationship with the “Yttrium” of the Capitals, and who will turn 28 half-way through the 2013-2014 season.

Guess you could say Strontium is the “Steve Oleksy” of chemical elements.