Strontium carbonate a mineral, strontium carbonate is prepared synthetically in one of two manners. First of which is from naturally occurring celestine also known as strontium sulfate (SrSO) or by using soluble strontium salts by the reaction in solution with a soluble carbonate salt (usually sodium or ammonium carbonates). For example if sodium carbonate was used in solution with strontium nitrate: Sr(NO) + NaCO → SrCO + 2 NaNO . The most common use is as an inexpensive colorant in fireworks. Strontium and its salts emit a brilliant red color in flame. Unlike other strontium salts, the carbonate salt is generally preferred
Gadolinium(III) nitrate Gadolinium(III) nitrate Gadolinium(III) nitrate is an inorganic compound of gadolinium. It is used as a water-soluble neutron poison in nuclear reactors. Gadolinium nitrate, like all nitrates, is an oxidizing agent. Gadolinium nitrate was used at the Savannah River Site heavy water nuclear reactors and has to be separated from the heavy water for storage or reuse. The Canadian CANDU reactor, a pressurized heavy water reactor, also uses gadolinium nitrate as a water-soluble neutron poison in heavy water. Gadolinium nitrate is also used as a raw material in the production of other gadolinium compounds, for production of specialty glasses and ceramics