Name Origin: The name Barium comes from the Greek word “barys” which means “heavy”. Symbol: Ba Classification: Alkaline Earth Metals |
|
Physical Properties-Description: Barium is a silvery-white, soft, metallic element. In its elemental form it will oxidize easily very quickly. Crystal Structure: body-centered cubic (bcc) Color: silvery-white Taste: unknown |
Body-Centered Cubic Crystal Structure |
Intensive Properties-Density @ 293 K: 3.51 g/cm3 Boiling Point: 2143K [1870 °C (3398 °F)] Melting Point: 1000K [727 °C (1341 °F)] |
|
Chemical Properties-Properties:
|
Barium in a Cup |
Sources: Elemental barium is never found in nature since it reacts with oxygen in the air, forming barium oxide (BaO), and with water, forming barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)2). Barium is most commonly found as the mineral barium sulphate (BaSO4) and witherite (BaCO3). Though it is primarily produced through the electrolysis of barium chloride (BaCl2).
|
Barium Sulphate |
Toxicity: Barium in elemental form is extremely toxic to people and animals. The health effects of the different barium compounds depend on the compounds solubility in water. Barium compounds that do not dissolve well in water are not harmful and are even used by doctors for medical purposes. Those barium compounds that do dissolve well in water may cause harmful health effects in people. Ingesting high levels of barium compounds that dissolve well in water has results in difficulties in breathing, increases blood pressure, changes in heart rhythm, Stomach irritation, brain swelling, muscle weakness, and damages to the liver, kidney, heart, and spleen.
|
|
Atomic Structure: Atomic Number: 56 Atomic Mass: 137.327 amu Electron Configuration: 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d105s25p66s2 |
Barium's Electron Configuration |
Uses:In elemental form:
In Compound Form:
|
A Barium Sulphate Enema |
History: Karl Wilhelm Scheele, a Swedish scientist, was the first to discover the compound Barium Oxide in 1774. He observed a new element in Bononian phosphorus, which gave off a sulphate. This sulphate was insoluble in water and not otherwise recognizable. Though Sir Humphrey Davy, a British Chemist, was the first to isolate elemental barium. He did so in 1808 in London, England. He achieved the isolation by the electrolysis of molten baryta, Barium Oxide (BaO). |
Sir Humphrey Davy |