Barium Chloride

Introduction

Barium chloride is represented or denoted by $\mathrm{BaCl_{2}}$. It is an inorganic chemical compound with a white salt-like appearance. It is toxic and imparts or releases a yellowish-greenish appearance to a flame. It can easily attract or hold the water molecules either by absorption or adsorption. It is more likely or easily soluble in the water. Due to its toxic nature, it is used in a limited amount in laboratories and industries. It is odourless and colourless in its natural appearance. It is soluble in water and methanol but insoluble in ethanol and ethyl acetate. It is used in the purification of brine or saline solution in caustic chlorine plants. Sometimes it is used in the formation of heat treatment salts and also in the case of hardening of steel.

What is Barium Chloride $\mathrm{BaCl_{2}}$?

Barium chloride with the empirical formula $\mathrm{BaCl_{2}}$. is an inorganic chemical compound with a white salt-like appearance or white solid crystals-like appearance. It is highly soluble in water. Similar to most of the other water-soluble salts of barium, it is highly toxic. It imparts or throws a yellow-green colour appearance to a flame. It has a molar or molecular mass of 208.23 g/mol (in anhydrous form) and 244.26 g/mol (in dehydrated form). It has a density of about 3.856g/cm3. Barium Chloride manages to dissolve in the methanol but it is insoluble in ethanol and ethyl acetate. It resembles an orthogonal structure in its anhydrous form.

Aleksander Sobolewski via Wikimedia Commons Kwas jablkowy, CC BY-SA 4.0

Structure of Barium Chloride $\mathrm{BaCl_{2}}$

Barium Chloride possesses or resembles an orthogonal crystal structure in its anhydrous form and a very rare monoclinic structure in its dihydrate or dehydrated form. $\mathrm{BaCl_{2}}$ is the combination of barium and chloride ions, i.e. $\mathrm{Ba^{2+}}$ and $\mathrm{2Cl^{-}}$.

Preparation of Barium Chloride

Following are the possible methods for the preparation of Barium Chloride $\mathrm{BaCl_{2}}$-

• Barium Chloride can be prepared or generated commercially, it is prepared in two steps

• From barite mineral (barium sulfate) that requires higher temperature, the reaction has been depicted below:-

$$\mathrm{BaSO_{4}\:+\:4C\:\rightarrow\:BaS\:+\:4CO}$$

• From Barium Sulphide (BaS), which is an inorganic chemical compound and the reaction has been depicted below:-

$$\mathrm{BaS\:+\:2HCl\:\rightarrow\:BaCl_{2}\:+\:H_{2}S}$$

Here, we can also use chlorine only in place of $\mathrm{HCl}$.

• Principally, it can also be prepared from barium hydroxide$\mathrm{(Ba(OH)_{2})}$ or barium carbonate$\mathrm{(BaCO_{3})}$. These are basic salts and they can easily react with hydrochloric acid$\mathrm{(HCl)}$ to give or form hydrated barium chloride.

Properties of Barium Chloride $\mathrm{BaCl_{2}}$

Following are some of the basic properties of Barium Chloride-

• The molar or molecular weight of Barium Chloride is 208.23 g/mol (in anhydrous form) and, 244.26 g/mol (in dehydrated form).

• Barium chloride possesses a density of about 3.856g/cm3 (in anhydrous form).

• Mostly it appears as a white solid but sometimes it also appears as a white salt.

• The melting point for barium chloride is around 960 °C.

• The boiling point for barium chloride is around 1560 °C.

• Solubility- It is soluble in water and it is also soluble in the methanol $\mathrm{(CH_{3}OH)}$ but it is insoluble in ethanol $\mathrm{(C_{2}H_{5}OH)}$ and ethyl acetate$\mathrm{(C_{4}H_{8}O_{2})}$.

Uses of Barium Chloride $\mathrm{BaCl_{2}}$

Following are all possible uses of Barium Chloride-

• It is primarily or mostly used for the purification of brine( salt or saline) solutions in caustic chlorine plants.

• It is used in the case of hardening of mild steel or steel.

• It also finds its uses in wastewater treatment.

• It is useful in the manufacturing of barium chromate, oil lubricants e.t.c.

• It is also used for purification purposes and the formation of heat treatment salts.

• It also plays a very important role in the formation of different barium salts and also in the production of some pigments.

• It is also used for testing the presence of sulfate ions.

• It is used in the firework industries to give a bright yellow-green colour to the crackers.

Chemical and Physical Properties

Chemical Properties-

• Barium Chloride undergoes a double substitution reaction when we add its solution with sodium sulfate. After the reaction, it will form or settle down a white precipitate at the bottom of a test tube and the precipitate formed is barium sulphate. This reaction forms an ionic reaction and it is depicted below:-

$$\mathrm{BaCl_{2}\:+\:Na_{2}SO_{4}\:\rightarrow\:BaSO_{4}(ppt)\:+\:2NaCl}$$

• As we all know Barium chloride reacts with water easily like other binary chlorine salts. It dissociates or breaks itself in water to give $\mathrm{NaCl}$-like ions. It behaves or acts neutral and hence does not affect the pH of the solution. Reaction to the same is as follows-

$$\mathrm{BaCl_{2}\:\rightarrow\:Ba^{2+}\:+\:2Cl^{-}}$$

Physical Properties:-

• As discussed in this article, Barium Chloride $\mathrm{(BaCl_{2})}$ possesses an orthogonal crystal structure when it is in its anhydrous form and a monoclinic structure when it is in its dihydrate or dehydrated form.

• It has a white crystal-like appearance, and its molecular weight is 208.23 g/mol (in anhydrous form) and 244.26 g/mol (in dehydrated form). Its density varies for the anhydrous form it is 3.856 g/ml while for the dehydrated form it is 3.098 g/ml. And, its melting and boiling points are 963 °C and 1560 °C respectively.

• Barium Chloride is highly or easily soluble in water and methanol also but it is not soluble in ethanol and ethyl acetate.

Health Hazards Caused due to Barium Chloride

Following are the major health hazards due to Barium Chloride-

• As we know Barium chloride is highly toxic that's why it has very limited use in industries and laboratories.

• If barium chloride comes in contact then due to its toxic nature, irritation will start in our eyes, skin and the mucous membrane.

• It can be very dangerous and leads to unconsciousness if inhaled, swallowed, touched for a long time or absorbed through the skin.

• Barium chloride, if taken in the form of poison, can badly affect the kidneys, cardiovascular system, and even our central nervous system.

• It is also very hazardous for aquatic life.

anonymous Hazard C,marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

Conclusion

Here, in this article, we come to know about Barium chloride $\mathrm{(BaCl_{2})}$, which is an inorganic chemical compound and it appears as a white solid or white salt sometimes. It is highly toxic like many other salts and especially barium salts. It is soluble in water and methanol also.

It throws a yellow-green colour when we bring it closer to the flame. Then, we discussed the structure and preparation methods on the industrial or commercial level of barium chloride. We also come to know about its several uses including purification of brine or saline, wastewater treatment, case hardening of steel, e.t.c. Finally, we discussed its physical and chemical properties along with the health hazards caused due to Barium chloride.

FAQs

1. What is Barium Chloride?

Barium Chloride is an inorganic chemical compound, with molecular or empirical formula (𝐵𝑎𝐶𝑙2). It has white salt or white solid-crystal-like appearance. It is highly toxic. It is easily or highly soluble in water and methanol. And, its molar or molecular mass is 208.23 g/mol.

2. Explain the Solubility of Barium Chloride?

Barium Chloride is highly soluble in water and lower alcohols like methanol but it is insoluble in ethanol and ethyl acetate.

3. What are the melting and boiling points for Barium chloride?

The melting point for Barium Chloride is about 963 °C, The boiling point for Barium Chloride is about 1560 °C.

4. Mention some of the uses of Barium chloride.

Some of the uses of Barium chloride are listed below:-

• It is used to purify brine(saline) solution in caustic chlorine plants.

• It is also used in the wastewater treatment process.

• It is used in the case of the hardening of steel.

5. What do you mean by brine?

Brine is a highly or greatly concentrated water solution of common salt$\mathrm{(NaCl)}$ or sodium chloride. It is commercially a very important source of common salt and other salts.