Strontium nitrate

Strontium nitrate is typically generated by the reaction of nitric acid with strontium carbonate.

2 HNO₃ + SrCO₃ → Sr(NO₃)₂ + H₂O + CO₂

Pyrotechnics

Like many other strontium salts, strontium nitrate is used to produce a rich red flame in fireworks and road flares. Unlike most other commonly used color-producing compounds, strontium emits light in almost the same range from their hydroxides and oxides as their chlorides, with the chlorides emitting a slightly deeper red. Oxidizers break down into their oxides and hydroxides upon combustion of a pyrotechnic mixture, generally speaking. Combined with strontium nitrate's high strength as an oxidizer, extremely pure colors in the orange-red to red color range are attainable with simple compositions using it as both oxidizer and colorant and without chlorine donors.

Experimental medicine

Strontium nitrate can aid in eliminating and lessening skin irritations. When mixed with glycolic acid, strontium nitrate reduces the sensation of skin irritation significantly better than using glycolic acid alone.

As a divalent ion with an ionic radius similar to that of Ca²⁺ (1.13 and 0.99 Å respectively), Sr²⁺ ions mimic calcium's ability to traverse calcium-selective ion channels and trigger neurotransmitter release from nerve endings. It is thus used in electrophysiology experiments.