Barium, abbreviated as ‘Ba,’ is a group 2 element with atomic number 56 in the periodic chart.
Barium is a dense alkaline earth metal found in ore deposits and accounts for 0.05 percent of the Earth’s crust. Barium and its derivatives can be found in nature or manufactured for a variety of applications.
It is a silvery-white metal that occurs naturally in the environment. It can be found in mixtures with other compounds like carbon, oxygen, and sulfur. It is extremely light, with a density half that of iron.
In the presence of oxygen, barium oxidizes and forms the hydroxide, which releases hydrogen. It interacts with practically all non-metals, creating poisonous chemicals in the process.
Bromide
A bromine compound containing another element or group, such as a salt having the anion Br– or an organic molecule containing bromine linked to an alkyl radical.
Barium Bromide
Barium bromide (abbreviated as BaBr2) is a significant chemical compound. It’s also known as barium (2+) dibromide or anhydrous barium bromide. It appears as a white solid that is water-soluble but poisonous in its watery state.
Barium (2+) dibromide crystallizes as white, deliquescent orthorhombic crystals with lead chloride patterns. It behaves like a simple salt when dissolved in water. It forms barium sulfate (BaSO4) precipitates when it combines with the sulfate ion of sulfuric acid (H2SO4).
BaBr2(aq) + SO42− → BaSO4(s) + 2 Br−(aq)
Structure of Barium Bromide
Barium bromide has an accurate mass of 297.74 g/mol and a monoisotopic mass of 297.742 g/mol. The number of hydrogen bond donors is zero, while the number of hydrogen bond acceptors is two. The chemical has three covalently bonded units and is canonicalized.
Physical Characteristics
- Molecular Weight: Barium bromide has a molecular mass of 297.14 grams per mole.
- Melting Point: Barium bromide has a high melting point. At 857 degrees Celsius, the inorganic substance melts.
- Boiling Point: Barium bromide has a boiling point of 1835 degrees Celsius.
- Density: The barium bromide formula has a density of 4.78 g/cm3.
- Solubility: The inorganic molecule BaBr2 dissolves in its own water-of-hydration at 75 degrees Celsius. In most cases, it dissolves before the anhydrate decomposes.
Chemical Properties
- The combination barium bromide is a white crystalline powder.
- Three covalently bound units make up the BaBr2 chemical.
- This inorganic compound has a mass of 297.74 grams per mole. BaBr2, on the other hand, has a monoisotopic mass of 297.742 grams per mole.
- In the barium bromide formula, the number of hydrogen bond donors is equal to 0.
- In barium bromide, the number of hydrogen bond acceptors is equal to two.
- The barium bromide solutions react with the sulfate salts to form a solid barium sulfate precipitate:
BaBr2 + SO42- → BaSO4 + 2Br–
- Barium bromide interacts with oxalic acid to form solid barium oxalate precipitates:
BaBr2 + C2O42- → BaC2O4 + 2Br–
- It’s an odorless white powder.
- The reaction of barium bromide with hydrofluoric acid yields a solid barium fluoride precipitate:
BaBr2 + F– → BaF2 + 2Br–
- BaF2 is a colorless solid that can be found in the natural world.
How Barium bromide is produced?
Barium bromide can be made from barium carbonate or barium sulfide by reacting it with hydrobromic acid (HBr) to make hydrated barium bromide. The following is the reaction:
BaS + 2HBr ⇢ 2HBr + BaBr2 + H2S
BaCO3 + 2HBr ⇢ BaBr2 + CO2 + H2O
Barium bromide (BaBr2) has a variety of applications
- Chemicals employ barium bromide as a precursor.
- In photography, this term is used.
- It was used to purify radium using a method known as fractional crystallization.
- It’s used in the production of other bromides.
- Phosphoric acid is a chemical that is used to make phosphors.
Health Risks of Barium Bromide
There are various risks associated with the use of barium bromide. The inorganic substance barium can prevent intracellular potassium from entering the cell. As a result, potassium is transferred from the extracellular compartment to the intracellular compartment. The resting membrane potential is reduced, which electrically unexcited the muscle fibres. As a result, it may result in paralysis.
When barium bromide is eaten and absorbed into the body, it can cause serious poisoning.
Bromine is a powerful oxidizer. It can release the free oxygen radicals that are present in mucous membranes from the water. The liberated free radicals can behave as powerful oxidizers, causing tissue damage.
Sample Problems
Question 1: Is natural barium bromide acidic or basic?
Solution:
Because barium is an alkaline metal, it produces a lot of Ba2+ ions. It is similar to the halogen bromine, which is used to make Br. Bromine generates a salt when it reacts with the element Barium. As a result, this barium salt is deemed neutral. As a result, it has neither acidic nor basic properties. Finally, BaBr2 is formed.
Question 2: What is the type of bond that barium bromide has?
Solution:
It’s an ionic chemical, barium bromide. To generate the Ba2+ cation, barium loses two electrons, whereas each bromine absorbs one electron to form Br–.
Question 3: Is it true that barium bromide dissolves in water?
Solution:
A polar compound is barium bromide. It is poisonous and readily dissolves in water. Water dissociates it into the ions Ba2+ and Br–.
Question 4: What is the chemical formula for barium bromide?
Solution:
Hydrobromic acid is used to make barium bromide from barium sulphide or barium carbonate.
Question 5: What is the chemical state of barium bromide?
Solution:
Barium bromide is a crystalline white substance that is water-soluble.
Question 6: What is the purpose of barium bromide?
Solution:
To purify radium, barium bromide was employed in a method known as fractional crystallization. It’s now utilized as a chemical precursor, in photography, and in the production of other bromides.
Question 7: Is it possible for Barium Bromide to kill you?
Solution:
Barium is a highly poisonous metal found in nature. As a result, it is harmful to your health, but if you add a very small amount to your food, it will not harm you. When barium and bromine mix, a salt is formed. Because salt has neutral qualities, Barium Bromide is not toxic to humans and is only present in trace amounts.