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, BaCl₂.

cathode: Ba²⁺(l) + 2e^- → Ba anode: Cl^-(l) → ¹/₂Cl₂ (g) + e^-

Barium metal can also be isolated from the reduction of barium oxide, BaO, with aluminum.

6BaO + 2Al→ 3Ba + Ba₃Al₂O₆