Definition

A white earth-like substance that looks similar to lime and has properties similar to baryta; it is an oxide of the metal strontium.

Example

The chemist used strontia in the experiment to study its properties.

Conversation

I was reading about different minerals and came across something called strontia.

Oh really? What is strontia used for?

It's an oxide of strontium and looks a lot like lime in color.

That sounds interesting! I had no idea there were so many unique minerals.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Strontia is derived from the name of the mineral strontianite, which was named after the village of Strontian in Scotland. The name 'strontianite' itself comes from the Latin 'strontianus', meaning 'of Strontian'. The mineral was first identified in the late 18th century, and its name reflects its geographical origin rather than a combination of Latin or Greek roots.

Memory Tip

Think of the village of Strontian in Scotland, where the mineral was first discovered, to remember that strontia refers to a substance named after this location.

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