Barium peroxide
Encyclopedia
Barium peroxide is the chemical compound
with the formula
Ba
O2
. This grey-white solid is one of the most common inorganic peroxide
s. Barium peroxide is an oxidizing agent
, which is used for bleach
ing. It is used in fireworks
as an oxidizer, which also gives a vivid green colour, as do all barium compounds.
Barium peroxide is a peroxide, containing O22− subunits wherein the oxygen atoms bond to each other as well as to the barium. The solid adopts the same structure as calcium carbide
, CaC2.
Barium peroxide arises by the reversible absorption of O2 by barium oxide
. The oxygen is released above 500°C.
This reaction is the basis for the now-obsolete Brin process
for separating oxygen from the atmosphere. Other oxides, e.g. Na2O, behave similarly.
Hydrogen peroxide
can also be prepared via the related reaction:
The insoluble barium sulfate
is filtered from the mixture.
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
with the formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
Ba
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...
O2
Peroxide
A peroxide is a compound containing an oxygen–oxygen single bond or the peroxide anion .The O−O group is called the peroxide group or peroxo group. In contrast to oxide ions, the oxygen atoms in the peroxide ion have an oxidation state of −1.The simplest stable peroxide is hydrogen peroxide...
. This grey-white solid is one of the most common inorganic peroxide
Peroxide
A peroxide is a compound containing an oxygen–oxygen single bond or the peroxide anion .The O−O group is called the peroxide group or peroxo group. In contrast to oxide ions, the oxygen atoms in the peroxide ion have an oxidation state of −1.The simplest stable peroxide is hydrogen peroxide...
s. Barium peroxide is an oxidizing agent
Oxidizing agent
An oxidizing agent can be defined as a substance that removes electrons from another reactant in a redox chemical reaction...
, which is used for bleach
Bleach
Bleach refers to a number of chemicals that remove color, whiten, or disinfect, often via oxidation. Common chemical bleaches include household chlorine bleach , lye, oxygen bleach , and bleaching powder...
ing. It is used in fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
as an oxidizer, which also gives a vivid green colour, as do all barium compounds.
Barium peroxide is a peroxide, containing O22
Calcium carbide
thumb|right|Calcium carbide.Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of CaC2. The pure material is colorless, however pieces of technical grade calcium carbide are grey or brown and consist of only 80-85% of CaC2 . Because of presence of PH3, NH3, and H2S it has a...
, CaC2.
Barium peroxide arises by the reversible absorption of O2 by barium oxide
Barium oxide
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.It reacts with water to form barium hydroxide.-Uses:...
. The oxygen is released above 500°C.
- 2 BaO + O2 2 BaO2
This reaction is the basis for the now-obsolete Brin process
Brin process
Brin process is a now obsolete industrial scale production process for oxygen. In this process the barium oxide reacts at 500–600°C with air to form barium peroxide which decomposes at above 800°C by releasing oxygen....
for separating oxygen from the atmosphere. Other oxides, e.g. Na2O, behave similarly.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is the simplest peroxide and an oxidizer. Hydrogen peroxide is a clear liquid, slightly more viscous than water. In dilute solution, it appears colorless. With its oxidizing properties, hydrogen peroxide is often used as a bleach or cleaning agent...
can also be prepared via the related reaction:
- BaO2 + H2SO4 → H2O2 + BaSO4
The insoluble barium sulfate
Barium sulfate
Barium sulfate is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula BaSO4. It is a white crystalline solid that is odorless and insoluble in water. It occurs as the mineral barite, which is the main commercial source of barium and materials prepared from it...
is filtered from the mixture.