Strontium fluoride

Strontium fluoride, SrF₂, also called strontium difluoride and strontium(II) fluoride, is a fluoride of strontium. It is a stable brittle white crystalline solid with melting point of 1477°C and boiling point 2460°C. It forms face-centered cubic crystals, with structure of calcium fluoride. It is almost insoluble in water (its K_sp value is approximately 4.33x10^-9 at 25 degrees Celsius. Its CAS number is [7783-48-4].

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Strontium fluoride is prepared by reaction of strontium chloride with fluorine gas, or by action of hydrofluoric acid on strontium carbonate. It irritates eyes and skin, and is harmful when inhaled or ingested.

Strontium fluoride is used as an optical material transparent from vacuum ultraviolet (150 nm) to infrared (11 µm) for a small range of special applications. Its optical properties are intermediate to calcium fluoride and barium fluoride.^[1] It is also used as an optical coating on lenses.

Strontium fluoride can be used as a thermoluminescent dosimeter crystal.

One of the uses of strontium fluoride is as a carrier of strontium-90 radioisotope in radioisotope thermoelectric generators.

Similar to CaF₂ and BaF₂, SrF₂ displays superionic conductivity at elevated temperatures.^[2]

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