Barium phosphate formula: Structure & Properties

Barium Phosphate is an inorganic salt used to make glasses and pulsed lasers in the chemical and optical industries referred to by the chemical formula Ba₃(PO₄)₂. It's an alkaline earth phosphate with low dispersion, low melting point, and low glass conversion temperatures, as well as a high refractive index, high thermal expansion coefficient, and good UV light transparency. It is a colourless solid having a fading odour similar to acetic acid. In addition, compared to other alkali earth phosphate glasses, barium phosphate glasses have a broader range of glass-forming areas and greater uniformity.

Keyterms: Braium, Phosphate, Inorganic salt, Alkaline, Melting point, UV light, Thermal expansion, Refractive index, Alkali

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Barium phosphate: Formula and Structure

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Tribarium diphosphate is another name for barium phosphate, which has the chemical formula Ba₃(PO₄)₂. It is also found in their hydrated forms Ba₂(P₄O₁₂).5H₂O, Ba₃(P₃O₉)₂· 6H₂O. Three cations and two anions make up barium phosphate. Barium is represented as Ba²⁺ in its cationic state, whereas phosphate is represented as PO₄^3- in its anionic form. Alforsite and jagowerite are examples of rocks and minerals that contain barium phosphate. It's made by combining the inorganic salt barium carbonate with metaphosphoric acid (HPO₃).

Below is the representation of its chemical formula:

Barium phosphate

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Preparation of barium phosphate

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Barium is an alkali earth metal that belongs to the periodic table's second column. It produces the ion Ba²⁺, which has a 2+ charge. Phosphate (PO₄) is a 3- charged polyatomic ion (3-). We need 3 barium ions (total charge of 6+) and 2 phosphate ions (total charge of 6-) to make a compound that is electrically neutral obtaining Ba₃(PO₄)₂ as the formula.

We can prepare barium phosphate by the following reactions:

• Barium phosphate is made by reacting the inorganic salt barium carbonate BaCO₃ with metaphosphoric acid.

Barium carbonate + 2 Metaphosphoric acid → Barium phosphate + Carbon dioxide + Water

BaCO₃+ 2HPO₃ → Ba(PO₃)₂ + CO₂ + H₂O

• It may also be made from barium chloride and sodium metaphosphate, with the barium phosphate precipitated and filtered out of the solution.

Barium chloride salt + Sodium metaphosphate → Barium phosphate + Sodium chloride

BaCl₂(aq)+ 2NaPO₃(aq) → Ba(PO₃)₂ + 2NaCl

In this scenario, barium phosphate is precipitated and extracted from the solution using the precipitation technique.

• We may also make barium phosphate by combining barium hydroxide and phosphoric acid.

Barium hydroxide + Phosphoric acid → Barium phosphate + Water

3Ba(OH)₂+ 2H₃PO₄ → Ba₃(PO₄)₂ + 6H₂O

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Physical properties of barium phosphate

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Following are some of the physical properties of barium phosphate:

• It's a colourless substance that comes in powder form.
• It has a faint acetic acid odour.
• Barium phosphate has a density of 3.63 g/mL.
• It has a melting point of 1560 ºC.
• It is insoluble in water but soluble in acidic aqueous solutions.
• The complexity of barium phosphate is 36.8.
• The barium phosphate begins to decompose when it is heated.

Barium Phosphate

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Chemical properties

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Following are some of the chemical properties of barium phosphate:

• The chemical formula of barium phosphate is Ba₃(PO₄)₂.
• It has a molecular weight of 295.27 g/mol.
• The complexity of barium phosphate is 36.8.
• It has a very high coefficient of thermal expansion.
• It has a very high melting point.

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Other names for barium phosphate

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Some of the other names for barium phosphate are:

• Barium orthophosphate,
• Tribarium diphosphate,
• Phosphoric acid,
• barium salt,
• barium(2+) diphosphate,
• tribarium(2+) diphosphate.

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Uses of barium phosphate

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Barium phosphate may find uses in a variety of industrial applications like:

• It is used in optical applications like host glasses for pulsed lasers.
• It is used in the preparation of glasses with special properties.
• It can be used as a proton-conducting material in fuel sensors.
• Because of its high thermal coefficient and melting point, the compound is employed as a raw material in industries.

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Health and safety hazards

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If swallowed or inhaled, it can be dangerous. It also irritates the skin, mucous membranes, the throat, and the eyes. It is not combustible. If someone swallows it by mistake, they should seek medical assistance as soon as possible.

The safety measures to be taken are as follows:

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• If inhaled, relocate the victim to fresh air. If unable to breathe, use artificial respiration. Make an appointment with a doctor.
• In the event of skin contact, use soap and a lot of water to get rid of it. Make an appointment with a doctor.
• In case of eye contact, rinse thoroughly for at least 15 minutes with plenty of water and seek medical advice.
• If swallowed, never administer anything by mouth to someone who is unconscious. Using water, rinse your mouth. Make an appointment with a doctor.

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Things to remember

• The inorganic salt barium phosphate is formed via the reaction of barium carbonate with metaphosphoric acid.
• The chemical formula for barium phosphate is Ba₃(PO₄)₂.
• It has a very high coefficient of thermal expansion and melting point.
• It is used to make a sodium and barium polyphosphate combination, which is one of the components of hot glasses and other special-purpose glasses.

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