56

Ba

Barium
137.327 (7)
 Historical Information

Baryta (barium oxide, BaO) was distinguished from lime (calcium oxide, CaO) by Scheele in 1774. Elemental barium was isolated by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808 who electrolysed molten baryta.

Basic Information Shells
  • Name:Barium
  • Symbol: Ba
  • Atomic number: 56
  • Atomic weight:137.327 (7)
  • Standard state: a solid at 298 K
  • Group in periodic table: 2
  • Group name:Alkaline earth metal
  • Period in periodic table: 6
  • Block in periodic table: s-block
  • Classification: Metallic
 Barium
Uses Trivia
  • making rubber
  • the nitrate and chlorate give green colours in pyrotechnics
  • glassmaking

The result of adding different metal salts to a burning reaction mixture of potassium chlorate and sucrose. The red colour originates from strontium sulphate. The orange/yellow colour originates from sodium chloride.