Strontium oxalate is a compound with the chemical formula . Strontium oxalate can exist either in a hydrated form () or as the acidic salt of strontium oxalate ().
Use in pyrotechnics With the addition of heat, strontium oxalate will decompose based on the following reaction:
Strontium oxalate is a useful red color emitter for use in pyrotechnics. It decomposes into strontium oxide, a good scarlet red emitter with two strong peaks at . The oxide reacts with moisture in the atmosphere to form the hydroxide, so its three strong peaks of , , and are also relevant.
Decomposition produces carbon monoxide (CO), which can reduce the broad spectrum emitter magnesium oxide (MgO) which can wash out colors to magnesium gas, resulting in a more transparent flame. This makes it a better emitter than other common strontium compounds in the presence of magnesium:
When magnesium is not present, there is no benefit from the production of CO gas and strontium carbonate is usually preferable.
Chlorine donors or chlorinated oxidizers result in a shift towards formation of strontium chloride () which produces a slightly different, deeper red spectrum, having its three strongest peaks at , , and .
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