Barium (Ba) and why it is Harmful

Word History: During the year of 1808, Sir Humphrey Davy discovered Barium (Ba). The name came from the Greek word “barys” which means “heavy”.

How was it discovered? During the middle Ages, alchemists and witches have been using minerals for various purposes. Stones of the mineral barite were known as “bologna stones” since they were found in Bologna, Italy. Even though the witches and alchemist did not know about Barium (Ba), they were able to discover that these stones have phosphorescent properties.

There were many attempts in isolating this element.  Carl Scheele and Johan Gottlieb Gahn both isolated this oxide in a different year. It was Sir Humphrey Davy who first isolated this element in 1808. He did it by doing electrolysis on molten salts. He was inspired to name it in analogy with calcium and also from the Greek word “barys”. He used “ium” to make it sound like a metallic element, leading him to the modern name now known to everybody.

Appearance and Properties:

1. It belongs to the Group 2 elements which are the alkaline-earth metals. Other members of this group are Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium, Strontium, and Radium. Its atomic number is 56 and its atomic weight is 137.33 grams per mole.

2. Its density, melting point, and boiling point are 3.5 grams per cubic centimeter, 725 degrees Celsius, and 1640 degrees Celsius, respectively.

3. It is silver in color, soft, metallic, and has a cubic structure.

4. In reference to Mohs hardness, it is a very soft metal with a hardness of 1.25.

5. It is a good electrical conductor.

6. Upon oxidation, the silver color fades and turns into dark gray.

7. It reacts with water or alcohol.

8. Presence of this element in flames results to green color.

9. It is commercially available but can also be prepared in the laboratory.

10. It has seven stable isotopes which are widely used in variety of fields.

11. It is not naturally found as a pure form but can be utilized from ores. It is principally found as barite and witherite.

12. Its specific gravity measured at 20 degrees celcius is 3.5. This is relatively high and all compounds with this element are very heavy. This is the reason why it is named after the Greek word “barys” which means “heavy”.

Uses of this Element:

• It is utilized in drilling fluids for oil and gas wells.

• It is also used in the production of paint and glass.

• A suspension of its sulfate compound is consumed by patients with digestive disease. Since it is insoluble and it can scatter X-rays, the intestines and stomach will be viewed as it passes along them.

• Its carbonate compound is used for rat poison.

• Its nitrate compound imparts green color to fireworks.

Understanding Its Toxicity:
This is an extremely poisonous metal that can’t be consumed even in low amounts. It is easily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract of humans. It is also absorbed by the bloodstream but it disappears after about 4 hours.
However, upon disappearing from the bloodstream, it sets on the muscles, lungs, and bone. It is also possible for this element to be stored in the kidneys, liver, spleen, brain, heart, or hair. It can also replace calcium in the cell membrane, making the cells more permeable. Human can get this through oral and inhalation exposure.

Sources: Compounds of this element are divided into two: soluble and insoluble in water. Water insoluble compounds with carbon and sulfur occur naturally in nature and are used to produce those soluble sulfide, acetate, hydroxide, and chloride compounds.

1. Industrial use. Most televisions that can be bought nowadays contain this element and heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium. Environmental pollution and water contamination. When objects with this element are disposed of in the water, it will contaminate the water. Exposure at work. Industrial workers are exposed to dust containing this element in the form of sulfate or carbonate.

2. Medical procedures. Sulfate compounds of this element are used to view the intestinal problems of human through radiological procedures.   Unlike its sulfate compound, the pure form of this element is not soluble and could cause toxicity when left in the body. 

3. Cigarette smoke. Cigarette smokers have high levels of toxic metals including this element.

What are its effects?

• Low blood potassium (hypokalemia) which will affect blood pressure, heart rhythm, and muscle strength. In severe cases, it will lead to paralysis. 

• Cardiac arrhythmias

• Respiratory failure

• Gastrointestinal dysfunction. This involves excess salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea in humans.

• Paralysis. At higher doses, it can greatly affect the nervous system that is why it can lead to paralysis.

• Muscle twitching. This is because after this element disappears from the bloodstream, it is absorbed by the muscles.

• Elevated blood pressure. This happens after inhalation exposure

• Kidney damage

• Death. This is possible when the patient experienced cardiac and respiratory failure. A concentration of 0.8 grams is considered fatal to humans.

• Reduced mental function

• Heart problems. The cardiovascular system is the primary target of the toxicity.

• Baritosis. It is a benign pneumoconiosis (an occupational lung disease and a restrictive lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust, often in mines) that can happen when a human experienced chronic inhalation exposure to dust containing this element.

• Irritation of the skin

• Irritation of the nasal area

Effects to animals:

• Renal toxicity. This happens when the animal was supplied with high levels of this element.

• Reproductive and developmental effects.

Oral exposure: More toxic effects will be experienced by a person if he ingested it than if he just inhaled it. This is because water soluble compounds of this element will immediately affect the gastrointestinal tract as it is being dissolved.

Among the effects one should look out for is abdominal distress which includes episodes of vomiting, cramping in the abdomen, and watery diarrhea. 

Other toxicity symptoms include numbness of the facial muscles, weakness of muscles, paralysis, and ventricular tachycardia (a rapid heartbeat that arises from improper electrical activity of the heart). 

How to treat poisoning: The first thing to do is to make the victim vomit in order to decrease the amount of the element in his body. The victim should be immediately brought to the hospital since barium (Ba) is easily absorbed by the body. Basically, seek medical attention as rapidly as possible.

[The information contained in this article is believed to be reliable. I have taken every precaution to verify its accuracy; I am not a medical professional and make no warranties, representations or guarantees of any kind as to its accuracy. Medical knowledge is in a constant state of change, and what I have written here may be out of date by the time you read it. The information that I have provided here is for informational purposes only and not for use in diagnosing any condition that you may or may not have. Always consult with you doctor before treating yourself.]