Barium Research Paper

Barium, with symbol Ba and atomic number 56 is the 5th element in Group 2 of the Periodic Table, with electron configuration [Xe] 6s2. Its name was coined from the Greek word ‘barys’ which means ‘heavy’, perhaps “because it has the highest density of all of the group 2 metals: 3.62g cm-3.” (Burrows, A, 2013). The element was first isolated from Barium Oxide in 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy. “Nowadays, the metal is usually obtained by converting the sulfate to the oxide, BaO, and reducing this with aluminium.” (Rossotti, H, 1998, pg. 421). The main deposits are located within England, the former USSR and Romania. However, unlike all of the other Group 2 metals, that are not as reactive as Group 1 metals, it does have to be stored under oil, and tarnishes …show more content…
It is a relatively soft silver/grey alkaline earth metal, and sometimes appears with a pale yellow tint. Ultrapure Barium is actually very difficult to prepare and so many of its properties have not been accurately measured. A reliable way to detect most Barium compounds is by a flame test, which results in a green to pale green flame. Barium Oxide will react with excess oxygen at a temperature of 600oC to form Barium Peroxide: 2BaO + O2 2BaO2. In nature Barium is commonly found as ‘Barite’ (BaSO4) and is very unlikely to be found as the metal due to its high reactivity. It is used in industry to remove traces of gas from vacuum tubes. Barium is also used in healthcare and can be taken in the form of a Barium meal which contains a small amount of Barium Sulfate in a white ‘slurry’ that coats the inside of the oesophagus and the inside of the stomach as these areas can then be examined under X-Ray, which would not normally be possible as X-Ray’s normally pass through soft tissue. In this form it is known as a ‘radiocontrast agent’. A similar slurry is used in oil drilling. Despite all of its uses, Barium is produced on a much smaller scale than some other group 2 elements such as Magnesium and

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