Barium oxalate
Encyclopedia
Barium oxalate
, a barium
salt of oxalic acid
, is a white odorless powder sometimes used as a green pyrotechnic colorant
generally in specialized pyrotechnic composition
s containing magnesium
.
Though largely stable, it can be reactive with strong acids. A mild skin irritant, the substance is considered toxic when ingested, causing nausea, vomiting and renal failure.
It is different from most pyrotechnic colorants in that it is a reducing agent and not an oxidizing agent.
Oxalate
Oxalate , is the dianion with formula C2O42− also written 22−. Either name is often used for derivatives, such as disodium oxalate, 2C2O42−, or an ester of oxalic acid Oxalate (IUPAC: ethanedioate), is the dianion with formula C2O42− also written (COO)22−. Either...
, a barium
Barium
Barium is a chemical element with the symbol Ba and atomic number 56. It is the fifth element in Group 2, a soft silvery metallic alkaline earth metal. Barium is never found in nature in its pure form due to its reactivity with air. Its oxide is historically known as baryta but it reacts with...
salt of oxalic acid
Oxalic acid
Oxalic acid is an organic compound with the formula H2C2O4. This colourless solid is a dicarboxylic acid. In terms of acid strength, it is about 3,000 times stronger than acetic acid. Oxalic acid is a reducing agent and its conjugate base, known as oxalate , is a chelating agent for metal cations...
, is a white odorless powder sometimes used as a green pyrotechnic colorant
Pyrotechnic colorant
A pyrotechnic colorant is a chemical compound which causes a flame to burn with a particular color. These are used to create the colors in pyrotechnic compositions like fireworks and colored fires. The color-producing species are usually created from other chemicals during the reaction. Metal salts...
generally in specialized pyrotechnic composition
Pyrotechnic composition
A pyrotechnic composition is a substance or mixture of substances designed to produce an effect by heat, light, sound, gas or smoke or a combination of these, as a result of non-detonative self-sustaining exothermic chemical reactions...
s containing magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
.
Though largely stable, it can be reactive with strong acids. A mild skin irritant, the substance is considered toxic when ingested, causing nausea, vomiting and renal failure.
It is different from most pyrotechnic colorants in that it is a reducing agent and not an oxidizing agent.