Barium: Applications, Physical and Chemical Properties

Barium is an element of the alkaline earth metals group with an atomic number of 56. Its chemical symbol is Ba. It is the fifth element of group 2 in the modern periodic table. They are soft and silvery in color. Barium is highly reactive and is never found in nature as a free element. In this article, we will learn important compounds of Barium, Physical and chemical properties of barium and applications of Barium.

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Barium

Barium is a dense alkaline earth metal that occurs naturally in ore deposits. It may be found naturally or can also be produced industrially. 0.05% of the earth crust is made up of Barium. 

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It is a silvery-white metal which occurs combined with other chemicals, such as carbon, oxygen, and sulfur. It is very light in weight and its density is half of that of iron.

Barium

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Physical Properties of Barium

1. Barium is a soft silvery metal with atomic number 56.
2. It is in the solid phase at STP.
3. It is an s-block element.
4. Electronic configuration of barium is [Xe] 6S².
5. Melting point of barium is 1000K.
6. Boiling point of barium is 2118K.

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Chemical Properties of Barium

1. Chemically, barium is highly reactive. But in most cases, it is very much similar to magnesium and calcium. 
2. It is so reactive, that it is not kept in the open air. 
3. When barium comes in contact with oxygen, it oxidizes to form barium oxide (BaO).
4. When barium reacts with water, it forms barium hydroxide, which is a base and also produces hydrogen. 

Ba + 2H₂O → Ba(OH)₂ + H₂

5. When barium reacts with non-metals, the salts are formed. 

Ba + H₂ → BaH₂

Ba + Br₂ → BaBr₂ 

6. The reaction of barium with non-metals is generally endothermic. But when barium reacts with metals, the reaction is exothermic in nature. 

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Important compounds of Barium

Barium is a highly reactive element, it forms a compound with various elements. Here we discuss some important compounds of the barium. 

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1. Barium Chloride

The chemical formula of barium chloride is BaCl₂. It is an inorganic compound. Among all the salts of barium, it is one of the common water-soluble salts. It is toxic and white in color. It gives a yellow-green colour to the flame.

• There are two crystalline forms of barium chloride. One of the forms has a cubic structure and another one has an orthorhombic structure. 
• When barium chloride is present in an aqueous solution, it acts as a salt. 
• When barium chloride reacts with sodium hydroxide, it forms a hydroxide. 

Preparation of Barium Chloride

(i) When barium hydroxide or barium carbonate reacts with hydrochloric acid, it gives barium chloride.

BaCo₃ + HCl → BaCl₂ + CaCo₃

(ii) Barium chloride is also prepared with the help of Barium sulfate (BaSo₄)

BaSo₄ + 4C → BaS + 4C ( at high temperature)

BaS + 2HCl → BaCl₂ + H₂S

Uses

• Barium Chloride is toxic in nature. So, it has very limited uses. One of its major uses is that it is used in the purification of brine solutions.
• It is also used in case hardening of steel and also manufacturing heat treatment salts.

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2. Barium Chromate

Barium Chromate also called chromic acid is an oxidizing agent compound formed by two elements barium and chromium. On heating, it produces green flames. It also acts as an anti-corrosion substance. 

• Its chemical formula is BaCrO₄. 
• Barium chromate is highly insoluble in water, but it is soluble in most acids.

Preparation of Barium Chromate

(i) When barium hydroxide or barium chloride reacts with potassium chromate, they produce barium chromate. 

Ba(OH)₂ + K₂CrO₄ → BaCrO₄ + 2KOH

(ii) When it reacts with barium hydroxide in the presence of sodium azide, it produces barium chromate. 

4 BaCrO₄ + 2 Ba(OH)₂ → 2 Ba₃(CrO₄)₂ + O₂ + 2 H₂O

Uses 

• Barium chromate is used as a carrier for chromium ions. 
• Barium chromate is used as an oxidizing agent in many reactions.
• In most cases, it is used as an anti-corrosive pigment.
• For the composition of catalysts for the alkane dehydrogenation, barium chromate is used.

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Applications of Barium

(i) Barium is very much useful for making alloys.

(ii) Barium is used in removing unwanted gases from vacuum tubes.

(iii) When barium alloys with calcium and magnesium, it works as high-grade steel deoxidizers.

(iv) Barium also acts as inoculants with steel and cast iron.

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Things to Remember Based on Barium

• Barium is an alkaline earth metals group with an atomic number of 56.
• The chemical symbol of Barium is Ba. 
• Barium is a dense alkaline earth metal that occurs naturally in ore deposits and can be found naturally or can also be produced industrially. 
• Barium makes up to 0.05% of the earth crust.
• Barium is a soft silvery metal with atomic number 56 and is in the solid phase at STP.
• Melting point of barium is 1000K and the boiling point of barium is 2118K.
• Barium is very much useful for making alloys and is used in removing unwanted gases from vacuum tubes.
• It works as high-grade steel deoxidizers when barium alloys with calcium and magnesium.

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