barium

Barium

Name:Barium

Symbol:Ba

Atomic Number:56

Atomic Mass:137.327

Density:38.16 g/cm^3

Melting Point:727 �C

Boiling Point:1870 �C

Group Number:2

Group Name:Alkaline Earth Metals

Standard State:solid at room temperature

Color:Silvery white

Classification:Metallic

Barium is a metallic element, soft, and when pure is silvery white

like lead. The metal oxidizes very easily and it reacts with water or

alcohol. Barium is one of the alkaline-earth metals. Small amounts of

barium compounds are used in paints and glasses.

Isolation

Barium metal is available commercially and there is normally no need

to make it in the laboratory. Commercially, it is made on small scale

by the electrolysis of molten barium chloride, BaCl[2].

cathode: Ba^2+(l) + 2e^- -> Ba anode: Cl^-(l) -> ^1/[2]Cl[2] (g) + e^-

Barium metal can also be isolated from the reduction of barium oxide,

BaO, with aluminum.