Barium (Ba)

Makes fireworks glow green.

Barium facts

Symbol
Ba
Atomic number
56
Atomic mass
137.33
Family
Alkaline earth metals
Period
6
Group
2

What does barium react with?

Barium makes a new substance with 15 other elements and chemicals in our lab:

  • Barium + HydrogenBarium hydride Ba + H₂ → BaH₂ · When heated · Try it
  • Barium + CarbonBarium carbide Ba + 2C → BaC₂ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
  • Barium + NitrogenBarium nitride 3Ba + N₂ → Ba₃N₂ · Only when heated very strongly · Try it
  • Barium + OxygenBarium oxide 2Ba + O₂ → 2BaO · When heated · Try it
  • Barium + FluorineBarium fluoride Ba + F₂ → BaF₂ · At room temperature · Try it
  • Barium + PhosphorusBarium phosphide 3Ba + 2P → Ba₃P₂ · When heated · Try it
  • Barium + SulfurBarium sulfide Ba + S → BaS · When heated · Try it
  • Barium + ChlorineBarium chloride Ba + Cl₂ → BaCl₂ · At room temperature · Try it
  • Barium + SeleniumBarium selenide Ba + Se → BaSe · When heated · Try it
  • Barium + BromineBarium bromide Ba + Br₂ → BaBr₂ · At room temperature · Try it
  • Barium + TelluriumBarium telluride Ba + Te → BaTe · When heated · Try it
  • Barium + IodineBarium iodide Ba + I₂ → BaI₂ · At room temperature · Try it
  • Barium + PoloniumBarium polonide Ba + Po → BaPo · Only in a special nuclear lab (it is radioactive) · Try it
  • Barium + WaterBarium hydroxide + hydrogen gas Ba + 2H₂O → Ba(OH)₂ + H₂ · At room temperature · Try it
  • Barium + Hydrochloric AcidBarium chloride + hydrogen gas Ba + 2HCl → BaCl₂ + H₂ · At room temperature · Try it

It also blends into a mixture, like an alloy, with 74 other metals when melted together.

Nothing happens when it's simply mixed with 9 of the others. 21 pairings have never been tried, because not enough atoms have ever existed.