INTRODUCTION
Barium is a soft, silvery, highly reactive metallic element.The element reacts vigorously with water; it is rapidly corroded by moist air. In fact, the element is so reactive that it occurs in nature only as a compound.
It rank 14th most common element, making up 1/2000th of Earth’s crust. Its most important compounds are the minerals barium sulfate and barium carbonate (witherite).
BASIC INFORMATIONS
- Atomic Number
- 56
- Atomic Mass
- 137.327
- Atomic radius
- 0.198
- Ionization energy
- 503
- Electronic config
- 2,8,18,18,8,2
- Principal Valency
- +2
- Density g/cm³
- 3.62
- Melting point °C
- 727
- Boiling point °C
- 1897
- Type of Element
- Metal
- Electronegativity
- 0.9
- Element Category
- Alkaline Earth Metal
- Appearance
- Silvery white solid
- Block
- s-block
- Period
- 6
- Group
- 2
- No of Isotopes
- 40
- Occurrence
- Combine form
- Abundance in ppm
- 390
- Year of Discovery
- 1808
EXTRACTION
It is extracted by the electrolysis of it's fused salt (often Halide)
OXIDATION STATES
+2 (Strongly basic)
MAJOR SOURCE
Barium sulfate, Barium carbonate
EXAMPLES OF COMPOUND PRESENT
Barium nitrate, Barium carbonate, barium sulfate
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
* Barium is sometimes used in coating electrical conductors in electronic apparatus and in automobile ignition systems.
* A form of barium sulfate, which is opaque to X rays, is used for the X-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract.
* Barium sulfate is used as a filler for rubber products, in paint, and in linoleum.
* Barium nitrate is used in fireworks, and barium carbonate in rat poisons.
