Barium hydroxide

Description

A white crystalline powder that readily absorbs Carbon dioxide from the air to convert to the insoluble Barium carbonate. Barium hydroxide has been used for both aqueous and nonaqueous neutralization/alkalization of paper (AIC Book and Paper catalog) where the deposition of barium carbonate provides an alkaline reserve. Barium hydroxide is used in the manufacture of glass and ceramic glazes as well as for corrosion inhibition and the removal of sulfates in water. It is also used as a rodenticide, Insecticide, and fungicide.

Synonyms and Related Terms

barium hydrate; caustic baryta

Other Properties

Soluble in dilute acids, water, ethanol and ether.

pH is about 12 for a 1%w/v solution

Composition	Ba(OH)2 - 8H2O
Density	2.18

Hazards and Safety

Highly toxic by ingestion. Contact with skin and membranes may cause irritation.

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry #1006

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• Matt Roberts, Don Etherington, Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• Book and Paper Group, Paper Conservation Catalog, AIC, 1984, 1989