Strontium Strontium was discovered in 1790 and was isolated in 1808.
Strontium is a soft, shiny metal.
Like calcium and the other metals on the left-hand side of the periodic table, strontium is an active metal. It has a shiny, silver-gray appearance when it is first cut, but soon tarnishes with a duller, slightly yellow colour. The pure metal cannot be found in nature, but an abundant supply of compounds have been naturally formed by reactions between strontium, atmospheric gases and water. The ore is treated with hydrochloric acid to yield strontium chloride. It is then electrolyzed in a molten state to produce strontium metal and chlorine gas .