Barium Chloride Formula

The barium chloride is an inorganic salt that arises due to the process of direct reaction of the barium (Ba) and the chlorine (Cl). We also call it barium muriate or barium dichloride. Moreover, it is a white color solid that is soluble when putting inside the water. It is hygroscopic and also gives a slight yellow and green color to the flame. Moreover, the chemical formula of the Barium Chloride is written as BaCl₂. We use barium salts in a large amount in the industrial sector. We use the sulfate commonly in white color paints that are particularly for the outside use. However, barium chloride is poisonous and harmful in nature. Let’s take a look at Barium Chloride Formula given below.

Formula and Structure

The barium chloride has a chemical formula i.e. BaCl₂and it has a molar mass of 208.23 g mol^-1. This salt is made with one barium cation (Ba₂⁺) and one chlorine anion (Cl^–). In addition, the barium salt also has a dehydrate form that has a molar mass of 244.26 g mol^-1.

The crystals can be in cubic form, fluorite or orthorhombic form. Its chemical structure is available below in the form of an image that is in the common representations that we generally use for the organic molecules.

Occurrence

The occurrence of barium chloride is not natural. Moreover, we can easily obtain it by the process of roasting the barite with coal and calcium chloride.

Preparation

We can produce the barium Chloride by conducting a 2 step reaction from the barium sulfate to produce the barium sulfate that reacts with HCl to produce the barium chloride as a result:

BaSO₄+ 4C → BaS + 4CO

BaS + 2HCl → BaCl₂+ H₂S

We can also produce the barium chloride from the barium sulfide that is hydrochloric acid.

Physical Properties

Barium chloride is a white color solid that has a density of 3.856 g mL_-1. The melting and the boiling points of the barium chloride are 962 °C and 1560 °C respectively. It is easily soluble in the water (H₂O), methanol and is insoluble with the ethanol and the ethyl acetate. Its flame is of slightly yellow and green color but it is highly toxic in nature.

Chemical Properties

The barium chloride has the same behavior or some other binary salt of the chlorine. In water (H₂O), it decomposes to produce:

BaCl₂→ Ba₂+ + 2Cl^–

This reaction is also similar to other binary Cl salts as the NaCl and does not affect the pH level of the solutions.

Uses

The barium chloride is useful in the firework industry as it produces a green flame. We also use it in the treatment of salts that are produced by heat. The petroleum industry also uses barium chloride. In general, its toxicity level limits its uses in the laboratory.

Health Effects and Safety Hazards

The barium chloride is extremely toxic in nature. It is toxic by ingestion, inhalation and can cause serious damage to the eyes. It is also toxic to aquatic life and aquatic animals.

Solved Example for You

Question: What is the role of the BaCl and pH ranges from 8.3 to 3.7 in estimating soil microbial respiration with the use of the SIR method?

Solution

BaCl₂helps in separating the reacted NaOH from the unreacted NaOH through the precipitation process. During titration, the HCl reacts with the unreacted NaOH so as to quantify what amount of CO₂was trapped by the hydroxide because the initial volume and molarity of NaOH is there. The end point of the titration process i.e. from the pink colour to colourless, marks the depletion of the unreacted NaOH.