Barium chloride facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barium chloride |
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| Other names | Barium muriate Muryate of Barytes Barium dichloride |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| PubChem | |
| EC number | 233-788-1 |
| RTECS number | CQ8750000 (anhydrous) CQ8751000 (dihydrate) |
| SMILES | [Ba+2].[Cl-].[Cl-] |
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InChI
InChI=1/Ba.2ClH/h;2*1H/q+2;;/p-2
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | |
| Molar mass | 0 g mol-1 |
| Appearance | White solid |
| Density | 3.856 g/cm3 (anhydrous) 3.0979 g/cm3 (dihydrate) |
| Melting point | |
| Boiling point | |
| 31.2 g/100 mL (0 °C) 35.8 g/100 mL (20 °C) 59.4 g/100 mL (100 °C) |
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| Solubility | soluble in methanol, insoluble in ethanol, ethyl acetate |
| -72.6·10−6 cm3/mol | |
| Structure | |
| Crystal structure | orthogonal (anhydrous) monoclinic (dihydrate) |
| Coordination geometry |
7-9 |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std enthalpy of formation ΔfH |
−858.56 kJ/mol |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Acute Toxic |
| NFPA 704 |
0
3
0
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| Flash point | Non-flammable |
| U.S. Permissible exposure limit (PEL) |
TWA 0.5 mg/m3 |
| Related compounds | |
| Other anions | Barium fluoride Barium bromide Barium iodide |
| Other cations | Beryllium chloride Magnesium chloride Calcium chloride Strontium chloride Radium chloride Lead chloride |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) | |
Barium chloride is a common chemical substance. It is one of the most important salts of the element barium. This substance is a white solid that can easily dissolve in water.
Barium chloride is known to be harmful if swallowed. If someone accidentally takes it, Sodium sulfate can be used to help. When barium chloride is heated, it makes a flame turn a bright yellow or green color. This is why it is sometimes used in fireworks.
It is also a hygroscopic substance. This means it likes to absorb water from the air around it. One of its main uses is to help clean or purify brine, which is water with a lot of salt in it.
Contents
What is Barium Chloride?
Barium chloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula BaCl2. It is made up of one barium atom and two chlorine atoms. It usually appears as a white, solid material.
Different Forms of Barium Chloride
Barium chloride can exist in two main forms. One is called anhydrous, which means it has no water molecules attached to it. The other form is called dihydrate, which means it has two water molecules attached to each barium chloride unit. These two forms have slightly different properties.
How Does it Look and Feel?
In both forms, barium chloride is a white solid. It feels like a powder or small crystals. It is quite dense, meaning a small amount of it weighs a lot.
How is Barium Chloride Used?
Barium chloride has several important uses in different industries. Its ability to react with other chemicals makes it valuable.
Purifying Brine
One of its most common uses is in purifying brine. Brine is a very salty water solution. In industrial processes, brine often contains unwanted impurities like sulfates. Barium chloride can help remove these sulfates, making the brine cleaner for other uses.
Making Fireworks
Because it gives off a bright yellow-green color when heated, barium chloride is used in fireworks. It helps create some of the beautiful colors you see in firework displays.
Other Uses
Barium chloride is also used to make other barium compounds. It can be used in the production of pigments for paints, and in some types of metal treatment. It also plays a role in certain laboratory tests.
Is Barium Chloride Safe?
It is very important to know that barium chloride is a poison. It can be harmful if it gets into your body.
Safety Precautions
Because it is toxic, barium chloride must be handled with great care. People who work with it need to wear special safety gear. This includes gloves, eye protection, and sometimes masks to avoid breathing in its dust.
What to Do if Exposed
If someone accidentally swallows barium chloride, it is a serious situation. Medical help should be sought immediately. As mentioned, Sodium sulfate can sometimes be used by doctors as an antidote to help reduce its harmful effects.
Interesting Facts About Barium Chloride
- Barium chloride is very soluble in water. This means it dissolves easily, much like table salt dissolves in water.
- It is a type of salt, but not the kind you eat! Chemical salts are compounds formed from an acid and a base.
- The term hygroscopic comes from Greek words meaning "water" and "to see." It describes substances that absorb moisture from the air.
Images for kids
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The crystal structure of anhydrous barium chloride.
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A sample of barium chloride.
See also
