56 Ba Barium 137.33 u

Barium

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Period
6
Group
2
Block
s-block
Phase (STP)
Solid

Barium is a soft alkaline earth metal that produces a green flame. Barium sulfate is used in medical X-ray imaging.

About Barium

Barium (Ba) is a soft, silvery alkaline earth metal, element 56, occupying group 2 of period 6 in the s-block. Its electron configuration is [Xe] 6s², its atomic mass 137.33, and its Pauling electronegativity 0.89. Heated in a flame, barium and its salts burn a characteristic green, a property exploited in fireworks. Its most familiar practical role is medical: because barium sulfate is dense and insoluble, patients ingest it as a contrast agent that renders the digestive tract visible under X-rays. Reactive toward air and water, the pure metal is solid at standard conditions and, like calcium above it, favors the +2 oxidation state.

Physical Properties

Atomic Mass 137.33 u
Phase at STP Solid

Electronic Properties

Electronegativity 0.89

Electron Configuration

Configuration [Xe] 6s²

Electron Shell Configuration

Barium electron shell configuration Ba 2e⁻ 8e⁻ 18e⁻ 18e⁻ 8e⁻ 2e⁻
Electron shell structure of Barium — electrons per shell.
Shell Electrons
1 (K) 2
2 (L) 8
3 (M) 18
4 (N) 18
5 (O) 8
6 (P) 2

Position in Periodic Table

Barium position in the periodic table Ba

Block & Period

Block

s p d f

Period

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Periodic Table

Lanthanides Actinides

Reactions Involving Ba

Barium Sulfate Precipitation

BaCl₂ + Na₂SO₄ → BaSO₄↓ + 2NaCl

Precipitation

Uranium-235 Fission

²³⁵U + ¹n → ¹⁴¹Ba + ⁹²Kr + 3¹n

Nuclear

Barium Chloride and Sodium Sulfate Precipitation

BaCl₂ + Na₂SO₄ → BaSO₄ + 2NaCl

Double-Replacement

Beta Decay of Cesium-137

¹³⁷Cs → ¹³⁷Ba + e⁻ + ν̄ₑ + γ

Nuclear

Decomposition of Barium Peroxide

2BaO₂ → 2BaO + O₂

Decomposition
View all 7 reactions →

Compounds Containing Barium

Barium Carbonate

BaCO₃

Barium Chloride

BaCl₂

Barium Ferrite

BaFe₁₂O₁₉

Barium Hydroxide

Ba(OH)₂

Barium Oxide

BaO

Barium Sulfate

BaSO₄

Barium Titanate

BaTiO₃

Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide

YBa₂Cu₃O₇

More Alkaline Earth Metal

4 Be Beryllium 12 Mg Magnesium 20 Ca Calcium 38 Sr Strontium 88 Ra Radium

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Barium?
Barium (Ba) is a chemical element with atomic number 56. It is a solid at standard temperature and pressure, classified as a alkaline earth metal.
What are the key properties of Barium?
Barium has an atomic mass of 137.33 u.
What is the electron configuration of Barium?
The electron configuration of Barium is [Xe] 6s2. It is in the s-block of the periodic table.
What is the electronegativity of Barium?
Barium has an electronegativity of 0.89 on the Pauling scale.