Barium+Oxide

2Ba + O 2 → 2BaOBaCO 3 → BaO + CO 2 It reacts with water to form barium hydroxide. BaO + H 2 O → Ba(OH) 2
 * Barium oxide**, BaO, is a white [|hygroscopic] compound formed by the burning of barium in oxygen, although it is often formed through the decomposition of other barium salts.

Recognized by: Carl W. Scheele in 1779 Isolated for the first time by: Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808 in London The name comes from the Greek word 'barys' meaning heavy. The element was called barium because it is found in baryte (barium sulfate) a mineral which had been given its name because of its high density.
 * Classification: || Barium is an alkali earth metal ||
 * Color: || silvery white ||
 * Atomic weight: || 137.33 ||
 * State: || solid ||
 * Melting point: || 725 oC, 998.2 K ||
 * Boiling point: || 1897 oC, 2170 K ||
 * Shells: || 2,8,18,18,8,2 ||
 * Electron configuration: || [Xe] 6s2 ||
 * Density @ 20oC: || 3.59 g/cm3 ||
 * Atomic volume: || 39.24 cm3/mol ||
 * Structure: || bcc: body-centered cubic ||
 * Hardness: || 1.25 mohs ||

Uses
Barium oxide is used as a coating for hot cathodes, for example, those in cathode ray tubes. It replaced lead(II) oxide in the production of certain kinds of glass such as optical crown glass. While lead oxide raised the refractive index, it also raised the dispersive power, which barium oxide does not alter.Barium oxide also has use as an ethoxylation catalyst in the reaction of ethylene oxide and alcohols , which takes place between 150 and 200°C.

Preparation
Barium oxide is made by heating barium carbonate with coke, carbon black or tar. It may also be prepared by thermal decomposition of barium nitrate. hEat is the only way that makes this so fine

Safety issues
Barium oxide is an irritant. If it contacts the skin or the eyes or is inhaled it causes pain and redness. However, it is more dangerous when ingested. It can cause nausea and diarrhea, muscle paralysis , cardiac arrhythmia, and can cause death. If ingested, medical attention should be sought immediately.

Barium oxide should not be released environmentally; it is harmful to aquatic organisms.