Barium [Ba] (CAS-ID: 7440-39-3) locate me
An: 56 N: 81 Am: 137.327 (7)
Group No: 2  Group Name: Alkaline earth metal
Block: s-block  Period: 6
State: solid
Colour: silvery white Classification: Metallic
Boiling Point: 2171K (1897'C)
Melting Point: 1002K (727'C)
Density: 3.51g/cm3
Shell Structure diagram | Atomic Radius diagram
Isotopes | More Info
Discovery Information
Who: Sir Humphrey Davy
When: 1808
Where: England
Name Origin
Greek: barys (heavy or dense).
Sources
Found in barytine (BaSO4) and witherite (BaCO3), never found in pure form due to its high reactivity.
Uses
An alloy with nickel is used in sparkplug wire. Barium oxide (BaO) is used in a coating for the electrodes of fluorescent lamps.
Barium sulfate is a good x-ray absorber, used in x-ray diagnostic work for obtaining images of the digestive system (barium meals and barium enemas).
Barium carbonate (BaCO3) is used in glassmaking and also as a rat poison and can be used in making bricks.
Barium nitrate (Ba(NO3)2) and barium chlorate are used to give fireworks green colours.
Notes
Barium is a metallic element that is chemically similar to calcium, yet is soft and in its pure form is silvery white resembling lead.
All water or acid soluble barium compounds are extremely poisonous.
Must be stored under a petroleum-based fluid (such as kerosene) to remain pure.
Images
Barium burns bright green Barium burns bright green
Barium at work in a firework Barium at work in a firework