Chemical Properties
Barium nitrate is a stable, strong oxidizer. It is incompatible with combustible material,
reducing agents, acids, acid anhydrides, and moisture sensitive substance. It is haz-
ardous as magnesium plus barium oxide plus zinc, aluminum and magnesium alloys,
combustibles (paper, oil, wood), acids, and oxidizers. Mixtures with i nely divided
aluminum-magnesium alloys are easily ignitable and extremely sensitive to friction or
impact.
Barium nitrate on contact with combustible materials will ignite. Barium nitrate mixed
with aluminum powder, a formula for l ash powder is highly explosive. However, barium
nitrate is non-corrosive in the presence of glass. It is used in military thermite grenades, in
the manufacturing process of barium oxide, the vacuum tube industry, and for green i re
in pyrotechnics.
General Description
A white crystalline solid. Noncombustible, but accelerates burning of combustible materials. If large quantities are involved in fire or the combustible material is finely divided, an explosion may result. May explode under prolonged exposure to heat or fire. Toxic oxides of nitrogen produced in fires.
Reactivity Profile
Mixtures of metal nitrates with alkyl esters may explode, owing to the formation of alkyl nitrates. Mixtures of nitrates with phosphorus, tin(II) chloride, or other reducing agents may react explosively [Bretherick 1979 p. 108-109].
Air & Water Reactions
Soluble in water.
Hazard
Strong oxidizing agent. See barium.
Health Hazard
Exposures to barium nitrate by ingestion or inhalation cause poisoning. The symptoms
include, but are not limited to, ringing of the ears, dizziness, irregular and elevated blood
pressure, blurred vision, irritation to the respiratory system, tightness of muscles (especially
in the face and neck), vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscular tremors, anxiety, weak-
ness, labored breathing, cardiac irregularity, and convulsions. Poisoned workers also suffer
from kidney damage, cardiac or respiratory failure, tremors, convulsions, coma, and possi-
bly death. Prolonged periods of exposure to barium nitrate is known to cause damage of the
liver (anemia and possibly methemoglobinemia), spleen, kidney, bone marrow, and the CNS.
Health Hazard
Inhalation or contact with eyes or skin causes irritation. Ingestion causes excessive salivation, vomiting, colic, diarrhea, convulsive tremors, slow, hard pulse, elevated blood pressure. Hemorrhages may occur in the stomach, intestines, and kidneys. Muscular paralysis may follow.
Potential Exposure
Barium nitrate is used in making fireworks
(in green fire pyrotechnics), signal lights, ceramics;
and in the electronics industry; to make BaO2. Once used
in the vacuum tube industry.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and Wash immediately
with soap and Water. Seek medical attention immediately.
If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,
begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including
resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical
attention. Give large quantities of water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit. See
also First Aid section in “Barium” entry.
Shipping
UN1446 Barium nitrate, Hazard Class: 5.1;
Labels: 5.1—Oxidizer, 6.1—Poisonous materials.
Incompatibilities
A strong oxidizer. Decomposes in
heat; may detonate if confined in elevating temperatures.
Keep away from strong acids; reducing agents. Contact
with organic and combustible materials (such as wood,
paper, oil and fuels); and aluminum magnesium alloys,
since violent reactions occur. Contact with sulfur powder
and finely divided metals can form shock-sensitive
compounds.
Waste Disposal
Dissolve waste in 6-MHCl.
Neutralize with NH4OH. Precipitate with excess sodium
carbonate. Filter, wash and dry precipitate and return to
supplier.
Physical properties
Barium nitrate has the molecular formula of Ba(NO3)2 and the molecular weight of 261.3745 g/mol. It is also known as “nitrobarite”. Its CAS number is 10022-31-8. It is soluble in water.
It can be prepared by a number of methods. The reaction between nitric acid and barium metal is one way and reaction with BaO or BaCO3 is another. Barium hydroxide and ammonium nitrate also form the product but ammonia is released as a by-product:
2HNO3 + Ba ---> Ba(NO3)2 +H2
2HNO3 + BaO ---> Ba(NO3)2 +H2O
Ba(OH)2 + 2NH4NO3 ---> Ba(NO3)2 + 2NH3 + 2H2O
Barium nitrate can also be prepared by the reaction of barium carbonate or barium carbonate with nitric acid:
BaCO3 + 2HNO3 ---> Ba(NO3)2 + CO2 +H2O
Uses
Barium nitrate [Ba(NO3)2] burns with a bright green flame and is used in signal flares and
pyrotechnics. It can be produced by treating barium carbonate with nitric acid.
Uses
Barium nitrate is used in industry in
the production of green signal lights, to remove gases
from vacuum tubes, and in the production of barium
oxide.
Uses
manufacture of BaO2; pyrotechnics for green fire; green signal lights; in the vacuum-tube industry.
Definition
ChEBI: Barium nitrate is an inorganic nitrate salt of barium. It is an inorganic barium salt and an inorganic nitrate salt.
Preparation
Barium Nitrate can be prepared by a number of methods. The reaction
between nitric acid and barium metal is one way
and reaction with BaO or BaCO3 is another. Barium
hydroxide and ammonium nitrate also form the product
but ammonia is released as a by-product:
2HNO3＋ Ba→Ba(NO3)2＋H2
2HNO3＋ BaO→Ba(NO3)2＋H2O
Ba(OH)2＋ 2NH4NO3→Ba(NO3)2＋ 2NH3＋ 2H2O
Barium nitrate can also be prepared by the reaction of
barium carbonate or barium carbonate with nitric acid:
BaCO3＋ 2HNO3→Ba(NO3)2＋ CO2＋H2O
In this method, barium carbonate is suspended in
nitric acid. The solution is filtered and the product
crystallizes out. Alternatively, barium carbonate and
nitric acid are added to a saturated solution of
barium nitrate. The product is then obtained by crystallization.
Barium nitrate may also be prepared by adding
sodium nitrate to a saturated solution of barium
chloride. Barium nitrate precipitates out from the
solution. The precipitate is filtered, washed with
alcohol and dried.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Purification Methods
Crystallise it twice from water (4mL/g) and dry it overnight at 110o. It decomposes at higher temperatures to give mostly the oxide and the peroxide with only a little of the nitrite. POISONOUS. [Ehrlich in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 941 1963.]
