The Barium chloride is a chemical compound of formula BaCltwo It exists in anhydrous and dihydrate form. It consists of colorless crystals that are soluble in water, it is used in heat treatment baths and in laboratories as a chemical reagent to precipitate soluble sulfates.
Barium chloride is one of the most water soluble barium salts. Like other barium salts, it is toxic and imparts a yellow-green coloration to a flame. It is also hygroscopic.
There are several methods of producing barium chloride, one of them is through the action of hydrochloric acid on barium carbonate:
2HCl + BaCO3 → BaCltwo +COtwo +HtwoOR
Another method of producing barium chloride is by heating a mixture of barium sulfate, carbon, and barium chloride..
Basso4(s) + 4C (s) → BaS (s) + 4CO (g)
BaS (s) + CaCltwo → BaCltwo + CaS
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Barium chloride are crystals, orthorhombic in their anhydrous form and monoclinic in their dihydrate form, white in color without a characteristic aroma (National Center for Biotechnology Information., 2005). Its appearance is shown in figure 2.
The compound has a molecular weight of 208.23 g / mol for its anhydrous form and 244.26 for its dihydrate form..
It has a density of 3.856 g / ml for the anhydrous form and 3.098 g / ml for the dihydrate form. Its melting and boiling points are 963 ° C and 1560 ° C respectively..
Barium chloride is very soluble in water, being able to dissolve 35.8 grams of compound in 100 ml of solvent. May react violently with BrF3 and 2-Furan percarboxylic acid in its anhydrous form.
Barium chloride is extremely poisonous and toxic. Its ingestion causes organ damage. Barium chloride blocks potassium channels as it is an agent that inhibits cell membrane glycoproteins that are selectively permeable to potassium ions.
It also causes serious damage to the eyes. It is not flammable and does not react with other chemicals.
In case of contact with the eyes, check if you are wearing contact lenses and remove them immediately. Eyes should be flushed with running water for at least 15 minutes, keeping the eyelids open. Cold water can be used. Eye ointment should not be used.
If the chemical comes into contact with clothing, remove it as quickly as possible, protecting your own hands and body.
Place the victim under a safety shower. If the chemical accumulates on the exposed skin of the victim, such as hands, the contaminated skin is gently and carefully washed with running water and non-abrasive soap..
Cold water can be used. If irritation persists, seek medical attention. Wash the contaminated clothing before using it again.
If the contact with the skin is severe, it should be washed with a disinfectant soap and cover the contaminated skin with an antibacterial cream..
In case of inhalation, the victim should be allowed to rest in a well-ventilated area. If inhalation is severe, the victim should be evacuated to a safe area as soon as possible..
Loosen tight clothing such as a shirt collar, belt, or tie. If the victim finds it difficult to breathe, oxygen should be administered. If the victim is not breathing, a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is performed.
Always keeping in mind that it may be dangerous for the person providing aid to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when the inhaled material is toxic, infectious, or corrosive..
In case of ingestion, vomiting should only be induced if the victim is conscious. Tight clothing such as shirt collars, belts, or ties should be loosened. If victim is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
In all cases, seek immediate medical attention..
Barium chloride is a harmful substance to the environment, especially for aquatic species, so it must be handled and disposed of according to the established rules and regulations..
Barium Chloride Dihydrate is used in wastewater treatment, production of PVC stabilizers, oil lubricants, barium chromate, and barium fluoride.
As a cheap and soluble barium salt, barium chloride finds wide application in the laboratory. It is commonly used as a test for sulfate ion.
In industry, barium chloride is mainly used in the purification of the brine solution in caustic chlorine plants and also in the manufacture of heat treatment salts, steel hardening, pigment manufacture and in the manufacture of other salts of barium.
It is also used in fireworks to give a bright green color. However, its toxicity limits its applicability.
Barium chloride was previously used in medicine to treat complete heart block. The usual dose was 30 mg three or four times a day or about 1.7 mg / kg / day..
Use of the drug was abandoned, largely due to its toxicity. It was formerly used for the symptomatic therapy of Stokes-Adams attacks. Now this treatment is obsolete. The radioactive compound is used as an experimental bone scanning agent.
In veterinary medicine, barium chloride has been used in the treatment of impaction in horses. The 0.5 g intravenous injection produces a drastic purge. Its use is not recommended due to a great danger of producing fatal heart block.
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