Mechanism for the retardation of the acid dissolution rate of hydroxapatite by strontium.

Dissolution rates and apparent solubilities for synthetic hydroxyapatite in acetate buffers containing phosphate and strontium ions in the range of 10-3 to 10-2 M were determined under various pH and buffer conditions. Critical examination of the role of strontium with a physical model suggests that a calcium-strontium apatite surface complex may govern the driving force of the dissolution reaction.