Radioactive strontium, Sr (number 38) is especially dangerous to humans because it tends to accumalate in calcium-dependant bone marrow tissues (calcium, Ca, number 20). How does this fact relate to what you know about the organization of the periodic table?
2007-05-12 05:24:16 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Ca and Sr are so similar that the body absorbs Sr and places it in the bones like Ca. Radioactive Sr in the bones radiates the bone marrow and causes leukemia. They fall in column 2 under each other. Elements in the same column have similar chemical reactions.
2007-05-12 06:52:00 · answer #1 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Group II elements have very similar chemistry - same number of electrons in the outer level. That is the danger with strontium.
2007-05-12 13:06:07 · answer #2 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋