Barium (Ba)
By: Jennifer Sherk
Barium: A History
Barium in Numbers
Barium Visual
Barium Properties
Barium is a soft, silvery metal (at room temperature) that tends to act rapidly with oxygen. Barium has a very high boiling point of 1870 degrees Celsius. Barium's melting point is 727 degrees Celsius. Since Barium is a metal, it can be used a conductor. Although because of it's hardness it is not often used as a conductor. Barium most likely is not very malleable even though it is a metal. It is a soft metal so that makes it not very malleable.
Scientist Explain Barium
Barium Uses
Barium is not used very extensively used. It is mostly used in drilling fluids for oil and gas wells. Barium is also used in paint and sometimes glass-making. As addressed in the video above, Barium has medical uses as well. Barium helps with taking X-Rays. Barium meal is was is used in these X-rays. Barium meal is a test that allows you to see into your body. The test is only performed after the bowel is cleaned out (patient is given a laxative the night before the test) Barium was also used in rat poison in the past. A fun fact about Barium is that Barium nitrate gives fireworks their green color. Ironically Barium is used to removes any trace of gases in vacuum tubes.
Green color in fireworks
Barium meal used in X-Rays
Barium in a vacuum environment to prevent oxidation
Barium Compound and Isotopes
All Barium compounds are toxic, but Barium sulfate is insoluble and can be swallowed. Barium sulfate is found in the 'Barium meal'. Barium carbonate and Barium nitrate are also common compounds. Barium carbonate is was used in rat posion and Barium nitrate is used for the green color in fireworks.
Barium does not have any specific isotopes that are used for specific things or help us in a certain way. Barium 130 and Barium 132 are radioactive and do have extremely long half lives.
Fun Facts
Photo Sources
Barium Picture - http://i.livescience.com/images/i/000/053/957/original/barite.jpg?1371679190
Humphry Davy - http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/96/12396-004-23FF427B.jpgCarl Sheene - http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/14/18314-004-A89F6268.jpg
Barium Meal - http://www.news-medical.net/image.axd?picture=2013%2f8%2fbarium+meal.jpg
Green Fireworks - http://f.tqn.com/y/chemistry/1/L/a/7/fireworks1.jpg
Barium Vacuum - http://usercontent2.hubimg.com/6266429_f260.jpg
Barium Visual - http://dandumitrache.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/barium.png
Other Sources
- Element Card: Gray, Theodore W. (2008). The Photographic Card Deck of the Elements.
- Elements Book: Gray, Theodore W. (2009). The Elements: A visual exploration of every known atom in the universe. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc.
- Royal Society of Chemistry Periodic Table: Royal Society of Chemistry. (2015). Periodic Table. Barium Article. https://app.schoology.com/link?a=172244657&path=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rsc.org%2Fperiodic-table