BARIUM AND BARIUM COMPOUNDS 89
4. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL INFORMATION
4.1 CHEMICAL IDENTITY
Barium is an alkaline earth metal with an atomic number of 56 and is classified in Group IIA of the
periodic table of elements. Its outer shell of electrons has a 6s2 configuration. Because barium is highly
reactive, it exists in the environment in the +2 oxidation state, which is its only oxidation state.
Barium forms useful alloys with aluminum and magnesium, which are used as getters in electronic tubes
to remove residual gases (Genter 2001). Barium is also used as a deoxidizer for steel and other metals
(Boffito 2002).
Barium reacts with several other elements to form commercially-important compounds. Of these, eight
barium compounds are covered in this chapter: barium acetate, barium carbonate, barium chloride,
barium cyanide, barium, hydroxide, barium oxide, barium sulfate, and barium sulfide. Their chemical
formulas, structures, synonyms, and identification numbers, in addition to those for barium metal, are
listed in Table 4-1.
4.2 PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Metallic barium is a silvery-white soft metal, but takes on a silver-yellow color when exposed to air
(Boffito 2002; Genter 2001). Like other alkaline earth metals, barium decomposes in water, evolving
hydrogen gas. Barium oxidizes readily in moist air. In powdered form, barium reacts violently with air.
Because of its high reactivity, barium does not exist as the metal in the environment; it exists in a
combined state with other elements.
The barium compounds, barium acetate, barium chloride, barium cyanide, barium hydroxide, and barium
oxide, are quite soluble in water. Barium carbonate and sulfate are poorly soluble in water. Barium oxide
reacts rapidly with carbon dioxide in water to form barium hydroxide and barium carbonate (Dibello et al.
2003). Barium sulfide slowly decomposes in water, forming barium hydroxide and barium hydrosulfide.
Barium sulfide is also known to undergo slow oxidation in solution to form elemental sulfur and various
oxidized sulfur species including the sulfite, thiosulfate, polythionates, and sulfate. The water solubility
of barium compounds increases with decreasing pH (IPCS 1991).
BARIUM AND BARIUM COMPOUNDS 90
4. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Table 4-1. Chemical Identity of Barium and Barium Compoundsa
Characteristic Barium Barium acetate Barium carbonate
Synonyms No data Acetic acid, barium salt; Carbonic acid, barium salt;
barium diacetate barium monocarbonate;
Pigment White 10; BW-C3;
BW-P
Trade names No data No data No data
Chemical formula Ba Ba(C2H3O2)2 BaCO3
Chemical structure Ba [Ba2+] [CO32-]
O
2+
Ba
H3C O
2
Identification numbers:
CAS registry 7440-39-3 543-80-6 513-77-9
NIOSH RTECS CQ8370000b AF4550000b CQ8600000b
EPA hazardous D005 No data D005
waste
DOT/UN/NA/IMCO UN1440/IMO 4.3 No data UN 1564/IMO 6.1
shipping
HSDB 4481 No data 950
EINECS 231-149-1 208-849-0 208-167-3
NCI No data No data No data
BARIUM AND BARIUM COMPOUNDS 91
4. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Table 4-1. Chemical Identity of Barium and Barium Compoundsa
Characteristic Barium chloride Barium cyanide Barium hydroxide
Synonyms Barium dichloride; Barium dicyanide Barium dihydroxide; barium
NCI-C61074; SBa 0108E hydroxide lime; caustic
baryta
Trade names No data No data No data
Chemical formula BaCl2 Ba(CN)2 Ba(OH)2
Chemical structure [Ba2+] [Cl–]2 [Ba2+] [CN–]2 [Ba2+] [OH–]2
Identification numbers:
CAS registry 10361-37-2 542-62-1 17194-00-2
NIOSH RTECS CQ8750000b CQ8785000b CQ9200000b
EPA hazardous D005 PO13/D003/D005 D005
waste
DOT/UN/NA/IMCO UN 1564/IMO 6.1 UN 1565/IMO 6.1 UN 1564/IMO 6.1
shipping
HSDB 2633 403 1605
EINECS 233-788-1 208-822-3 241-234-5
NCI No data No data No data
BARIUM AND BARIUM COMPOUNDS 92
4. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Table 4-1. Chemical Identity of Barium and Barium Compoundsa
Characteristic Barium oxide Barium sulfate Barium sulfide
Synonyms Barium monoxide; barium Artificial heavy spar; Barium suphide
protoxide; baryta; calcined artificial barite; baridol;
baryta barytes; blanc fixe; C.I.
Pigment White 21;
Citobaryum; Enamel
White; E-Z-Paque;
Solbar; precipitated
barium sulphate; sulfuric
acid, barium saltf
Trade names No data No data No data
Chemical formula BaO BaSO4 BaS
Chemical structure [Ba2+] [O2-] [Ba2+] [SO42-] [Ba2+] [S2-]
Identification numbers:
CAS registry 1304-28-5 7727-43-7 21109-95-5
NIOSH RTECS CQ9800000b CR0600000b CR0660000b
EPA hazardous No data D005 No data
waste
DOT/UN/NA/IMCO UN1884 UN1564/IMO6.1 UN1564/IMDG6.1c
shipping
EINECS 215-127-9 231-784-4 244-214-4
HSDB No data 5041 No data
NCI No data No data No data
a
All information obtained from HSDB 2007 and ChemIDplus 2007 except where noted
b
RTECS 2007
c
Kresse et al. 2007
CAS = Chemical Abstracts Service; DOT/UN/NA/IMCO = Department of Transportation/United Nations/North
America/Intergovernmental Maritime Dangerous Goods Code; EINECS = European Inventory of Existing
Commercial chemical Substances; EPA = Environmental Protection Agency; HSDB = Hazardous Substances Data
Bank; NCI = National Cancer Institute; NIOSH = National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health;
RTECS = Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances
BARIUM AND BARIUM COMPOUNDS 93
4. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Information regarding the physical and chemical properties of barium and barium compounds is located
in Table 4-2.
BARIUM AND BARIUM COMPOUNDS 94
4. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Table 4-2. Physical and Chemical Properties of Barium and Barium Compoundsa
Property Barium Barium acetate Barium carbonate
Molecular weight 137.327 255.416 (anhydrous) 197.336
273.431 (monohydrate)
Physical description Silvery-yellow metal; White powder White orthorhombic crystals
cubic (anhydrous); white
crystals (monohydrate)
Melting point 727 °C Decomposes at 110 °C 1,555 °C
(monohydrate)
Boling point 1,897 °C No data No data
Density 3.62 g/cm3 2.47 g/cm3 4.2865 g/cm3
(anhydrous);
2.19 g/cm3
(monohydrate)
Specific gravity No data 2.02 (below 24.7 °C)b No data
Odor No data No data Odorlessc
Odor threshold No data No data No data
Solubility:
Water Reacts with water 79.2 g/100 g water at 0.0014 g/100 g water at
25 °C 20 °C; soluble in dilute HCl,
HNO3, and acetic acidd;
soluble in NH4Cl and NH4NO3
solutionsd
Organic solvents Slightly soluble in Slightly soluble in Insoluble in alcohole
ethanol ethanol (monohydrate)
Partition coefficients No data No data No data
Vapor pressure 6.65x10-4 mmHg (at No data Essentially zerog
630 °C)f; 0.998 mmHg
(at 1,050 °C)f
Henry’s law coefficients No data No data No data
Autoignition temperature No data No data Nonflammablec
Flashpoint No data No data Nonflammablec
Flammability limits Explosion hazard if No data Nonflammablec
exposed to moist aird
Conversion factors No data No data No data
Explosive limits No data No data No data
BARIUM AND BARIUM COMPOUNDS 95
4. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Table 4-2. Physical and Chemical Properties of Barium and Barium Compoundsa
Property Barium chloride Barium cyanide Barium hydroxide
Molecular weight 208.232 (anhydrous); 189.361 171.342 (anhydrous); 189.357
244.263 (dihydrate)e (monohydrate); 315.464
(octahydrate)
Physical description White hygroscopic White crystalline White powder (anhydrous,
orthorhombic crystals powder monohydrate); white
(anhydrous); white monoclinic crystals
monoclinic crystals (octahydrate)
(dihydrate)
Melting point 962 °C (anhydrous); No data 408 °C (anhydrous);
decomposes at decomposes at 78 °C
approximately 120 °C (octahydrate)
(dihydrate)
Boling point 1,560 °C (anhydrous) No data No data
Density 3.9 g/cm3 (anhydrous); No data 3.743 g/cm3 (monohydrate);
3.097 g/cm3 2.18 g/cm3 (octahydrate)
(dihydrate)
Specific gravity No data No data 4.495 (anhydrous)h
Odor Odorlessg No data No data
Odor threshold No data No data No data
Solubility:
Water 37.0 g/100 g water at 800 g/L (at 14 °C)e 4.91 g/100 g water at 25 °C
25 °C
Organic solvents Insoluble in ethanol 180 g/L (in 70% alcohol Soluble in methanold
(dehydrate) at 14 °C)e
Partition coefficients No data No data No data
Vapor pressure Essentially zerog No data 0 mm Hg at 15 °C
(monohydrate)i; 11.4 mm Hg
at 15 °C (water vapor
pressure of octahydrate)i
Henry’s law coefficients No data No data No data
c
Autoignition temperature No data Nonflammable No data
c
Flashpoint No data Nonflammable No data
Flammability limits No data Nonflammablec No data
Conversion factors No data No data No data
Explosive limits No data No data Explosive >216 °Cj
BARIUM AND BARIUM COMPOUNDS 96
4. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Table 4-2. Physical and Chemical Properties of Barium and Barium Compoundsa
Property Barium oxide Barium sulfate Barium sulfide
Molecular weight 153.326 233.391 169.393
Physical description White-yellow powder; White orthorhombic Colorless cubic crystals or
cubic and hexagonal crystals gray powder
crystals
Melting point 1,972 °C 1,580 °C 2,229 °C
Boling point No data No data No data
Density 5.72 g/cm3 (cubic) 4.49 g/cm3 4.3 g/cm3
Specific gravity 5.32 (hexagonal)b 4.50b No data
Odor Odorlessg Odorlessd Sulfurous
Odor threshold No data No data No data
Solubility:
Water 1.5 g/100 g water at 00.00031 g/100 g water 8.94 g/100 g water at 25 °C
20 °C at 20 °C
Organic solvents Soluble in ethanol; Insoluble in ethanol No data
insoluble in acetone
Partition coefficients No data No data No data
Vapor pressure Essentially zerog No data No data
Henry’s law coefficients No data No data No data
Autoignition temperature No data No data No data
Flashpoint No data No data No data
Flammability limits Produces heat on Noncombustiblek Flammable by spontaneous
contact with water or chemical reactionsk
steamk
Conversion factors No data No data No data
Explosive limits Contact with CO2 may Heating with aluminum Air, moisture, or acid fumes
cause explosionk may cause violent may cause it to ignitek
k
explosions
a
All information obtained from Lide 2005 except where noted
b
Dibello et al. 2003
c
DOT 2005
d
Budavari et al. 2001
e
Weast 1989
f
Boffito 2002
g
NIOSH/OSHA 1978
h
Perry and Chilton 1973
i
Preisman and Davis 1948
j
HSDB 2007
k
Lewis 2000
