What is Barium Carbonate?
White in colour, Barium Carbonate is a solid element that precipitates from a solution of barium hydroxide and Urea. It has a chemical formula stated as BaCO3. Barium Carbonate is generally toxic in nature and comes in other forms like a mineral form called witherite and it can also be prepared from barytes with the help of precipitation. It can also be seen in glazes of turquoise. It is advisable to take proper protective measures while handling this chemical compound as it’s high toxicity is something that you shouldn’t be messing with. It should be strictly kept under low quality, preferably below 20%. It is also known as Barium Monocarbonate
The Barium Carbonate Formula is BaCO3
Physical Properties of Barium Carbonate - BaCO3
The above-mentioned table sums up the physical properties of Barium Carbonate.
BaCO3/ Barium Carbonate Structure
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Chemical Properties of Barium Carbonate - BaCO3
Calcium salts that are soluble can react with Barium Carbonate to form Barium Sulphate which remains in solution and calcium carbonate. The related chemical reaction is given below:
BaCO3 + CaSO4 → CaCO3 + BaSO4
Barium Carbonate can react with Hydrochloric Acid to form Barium Chloride, Water, and Carbon Dioxide.
BaCO3 + 2HCl → BaCl2 + H20 + CO2
Various Uses of Barium Carbonate - BaCO3
Being a white insoluble salt that finds its largest usage in the Ceramics Industry, Barium Carbonate is widely used to make ceramic products.
It also finds usage as a raw material for Barium oxide (BaO) and Barium peroxide (BaO2)
Barium Carbonate is widely used as a rodenticide although its whitish flour-like appearance has resulted in many barium poisoning cases.
Some of the major commercial applications of barium carbonate / BaCO3 includes glass, oil-drilling, photographic, ceramic, enamel, barium magnetic materials, paint, brick, and chemical industries.
Barium Carbonate is also used for the manufacturing of electronic ceramics, capacitors, PTC thermistors, and other types of electronic equipment.
It is an important raw material for the production of magnetic components and fibre optical glass.
Production Method of BaCO3
Carbonation Method
The process of production of BaCO3 with the carbonation process involves the following:
First carbon dioxide is passed through a solution of barium sulfide so that it can carbonize,
The barium carbonate slurry obtained from this process is then further subjected to desulphurization wash
It is then passed through vacuum filtration, and then dried at 300℃
The final process involves pulverization before barium carbonate products can be obtained.
The Chemical Reaction
BaS + CO2 + H2O → BaCO3↓+ H2S↑
Metathesis Method
In the Metathesis method, barium sulfide and ammonium carbonate undertake a metathesis reaction resulting in barium carbonate. The end product is then washed, filtered, and dried in order to obtain bismuth products.
The Chemical Reaction
BaS + (NH4) 2CO3 → BaCO3 ↓ + (NH4) 2S
Poison Nepheline Conversion Method
In this process, soluble barium salt is obtained by reacting witherite with an ammonium salt. The resultant ammonium carbonate is recycled to be used again. This ammonium carbonate is then added into the soluble barium slat obtained earlier to precipitate barium carbonate in refined form. The resultant BaCO3 is then filtered and dried to make barium carbonate based products.
The Chemical Reaction
BaCl2 + NH4HCO3 + NH4OH → BaCO3 ↓ + 2NH4Cl + H2O
Dry Granulation Method
The process goes as follows:
Barium carbonate obtained from heavy precipitation is sieved and placed within the warehouse of raw materials. It is then stirred well, mixed, and then degassed. The material is then made to go through the rotary feeder. The end product is compressed with rollers into tablets in a thickness of 3.7 to 4 mm. The resultant tablets are then rolled into a sheet in the input granulator and its speed is adjusted accordingly. This gives semi-finished products of barium.
The semi-finished products are subjected to the knife pulse pneumatic conveying method, which the products input into the vibration feeder to sieve. The granulator releases barium carbonate in particles larger than 20 mesh.
Wet Granulation Method
This method uses a precipitation system to filter a cake containing barium rich water in the process of manufacturing. The filter cake should have the capability to control the water content at about 20%. The material is then passed through the action of rotating blades and the material is rapidly mixed. It is then kneaded and mediated to form semi-dense particles/ wet pellets. The wet pellets are then put into the rotary kiln’s direct fire and then sintered at 800-1200℃. Then is it furthered screened, processed through iron removal, weighed, and then packed in particles of barium carbonate.
Interesting Fact:
Barium Carbonate or BaCO3 is also called Whiterite named after William Withering who discovered this white mineral in 1784 from barytes. It generally occurs in the veins of lead ores and is found naturally in a few places.
FAQs on Barium Carbonate
1. What is Barium Carbonate and what is its chemical formula?
Barium Carbonate is an inorganic chemical compound that appears as a white, solid, and odourless powder. It is also found naturally as the mineral witherite. The correct chemical formula for Barium Carbonate is BaCO₃. It is known for its high toxicity and poor solubility in water.
2. What are the most important industrial uses of Barium Carbonate?
Barium Carbonate has several significant industrial applications. Its main uses include:
- Ceramics Industry: It acts as a flux, matting, and crystallizing agent in glazes, helping to produce unique colours.
- Glass Manufacturing: Used in specialty glass, optical glass, and television screen glass to increase refractive index and brilliance.
- Chemical Production: Serves as a raw material for producing other barium compounds like Barium Oxide (BaO) and Barium Peroxide (BaO₂).
- Pest Control: It is an effective ingredient in rodenticides (rat poison) due to its toxicity.
- Electronics: Used in the manufacturing of electronic components like capacitors and PTC thermistors.
3. Is Barium Carbonate (BaCO₃) considered a precipitate?
Yes, Barium Carbonate is considered a precipitate. It is formed when a soluble barium salt, like barium chloride (BaCl₂), reacts with a soluble carbonate, like sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃). Because BaCO₃ is highly insoluble in water, it separates from the solution as a solid white precipitate. This property is fundamental to its production methods, such as the metathesis reaction.
4. Why is Barium Carbonate considered toxic to humans, and what safety precautions are essential?
Barium Carbonate is toxic because, upon ingestion, it reacts with hydrochloric acid in the stomach to form soluble barium chloride (BaCl₂). The soluble barium ions interfere with potassium ion channels in the body, which are critical for nerve and muscle function, leading to severe symptoms like muscle weakness, paralysis, and cardiac issues. Due to its toxicity, it is crucial to handle it with care, using protective equipment like gloves and masks to prevent accidental ingestion or inhalation of the powder.
5. How is Barium Carbonate produced using the carbonation method?
The carbonation method is a common industrial process for producing Barium Carbonate. The process starts with a solution of barium sulfide (BaS). Carbon dioxide gas is then passed through this solution, which leads to a chemical reaction. The Barium Carbonate precipitates out of the solution as a solid, while hydrogen sulfide gas is released. The chemical reaction is: BaS + CO₂ + H₂O → BaCO₃↓ + H₂S↑. The resulting BaCO₃ slurry is then filtered, washed, and dried to obtain the final product.
6. What happens when Barium Carbonate reacts with a strong acid like Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)?
When Barium Carbonate (BaCO₃), a carbonate salt, reacts with a strong acid such as Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), it undergoes a neutralization reaction. The products of this reaction are a soluble salt (Barium Chloride), water, and carbon dioxide gas, which is observed as effervescence. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is: BaCO₃ + 2HCl → BaCl₂ + H₂O + CO₂.
7. How does Barium Carbonate's role as a flux contribute to the quality of ceramic glazes?
In ceramics, a flux is a material that lowers the melting point of other components in a glaze mixture. Barium Carbonate acts as an effective flux, allowing the glaze to melt and flow smoothly over the ceramic surface at lower temperatures. This ensures a uniform, non-porous, and durable coating. Furthermore, it interacts with colouring oxides like copper and iron to produce unique and stable colours that cannot be achieved with other materials, making it highly valuable for creating distinctive aesthetic finishes on pottery and tiles.
