How to Write Barium Nitrate: The Right Formula, Uses, and Safety

Barium nitrate is easy to write. The formula is Ba(NO₃)₂. You use Ba for barium and NO₃ for the nitrate group. Because barium has a 2+ charge and nitrate has a 1− charge, you need two nitrate ions for each barium ion. So, the right way to write it is Ba(NO₃)₂.

What is Barium Nitrate?

Barium nitrate is a white, watery, powder-like salt. It is made when barium carbonate or barium sulfide meets nitric acid. Barium nitrate’s real name is barium dinitrate. Sometimes it’s called barium(II) nitrate. Its special number on chemical lists is CAS 10022-31-8.

Key facts:

How to Write the Barium Nitrate Formula

You can write barium nitrate in chemistry with a few smart steps.

Follow these steps:

1. Barium ion = Ba²⁺
2. Nitrate ion = NO₃⁻ (a group of one nitrogen and three oxygens)
3. Balance charges: You need the charges to make zero. Barium is +2, each nitrate is −1. So you need two nitrates.
4. Parentheses: Always put parentheses around the NO₃ when you have two or more.

Full formula: Ba(NO₃)₂

Here is how the formula looks:

So, you pair Barium with two Nitrates: Ba(NO₃)₂

Big Properties of Barium Nitrate

Barium nitrate is part of the alkaline earth metals. It makes light turn green in fireworks. But it is also an oxidizer. This means it can help other things burn.

Physical things:

• White crystals that look a bit like table salt
• Melts at 592°C but breaks apart as it melts
• Mixes with water
• Formula weight: 261.34 grams for each mole
• Density: 3.24 grams per cm³

Chemical things:

• It is an oxidizer. This means it can make things burn hot or fast.
• When it gets hot, it can fall apart. It then makes barium oxide (BaO), oxygen and other gases.

Quick facts:

What is Barium Nitrate Made Of?

Barium nitrate is made of two things:

• Barium ion (Ba²⁺)
• Two nitrate ions (NO₃⁻)

Each nitrate piece is made from one nitrogen atom joined to three oxygen atoms. The whole group is called a polyatomic ion.

How Do You Make Barium Nitrate?

You can make barium nitrate at home or in a lab, but you must be very careful. Only skilled adults should do it. To make it, people use one of these two ways:

1. Barium carbonate + nitric acid → barium nitrate + carbon dioxide + water
2. Barium sulfide + nitric acid → barium nitrate + water + sulfur stuff

These reactions need good safety rules.

Where is Barium Nitrate Used?

Barium nitrate is very useful. You will find it in:

1. Fireworks and Pyrotechnics: It makes a bright green color.
2. Military: Used in tracer bullets and flares.
3. Glass and Ceramics: It gives clear glass and pretty glazes.
4. Explosives: It’s in some blasts and grenades.
5. Other Uses: It was even tried as a way to stop mice and rats.

Link for More: Barium Nitrate Manufacturer

Is Barium Nitrate Safe?

No. Barium nitrate can hurt you. It is both toxic and an oxidizer. It can also bother your skin, eyes, and lungs. Here’s what you need to know:

Hazards of Barium Nitrate

• If you eat it: Can make you sick, mess up your stomach, make muscles weak, even hurt your heart.
• If it touches skin or eyes: May burn or itch.
• If you breathe it: Can cause coughing, short breaths, or tight chest.
• It helps fires burn. It is dangerous around other stuff that burns, like paper, oil, or wood.

Exposure and Health Effects

Too much barium nitrate can kill. It lowers levels of potassium in your blood (a problem called hypokalemia). This hurts your heart and muscles fast.

You must not eat, touch your eyes, or breathe this powder.

Safety: How to Handle and Store Barium Nitrate

Barium nitrate is strong stuff. You must treat it with care:

Best safety steps:

• Wear gloves: No powder on skin
• Put on safety glasses: No powder in eyes
• Wear a mask: No dust in lungs
• Good air: Use outside or with a fume hood
• Keep away from fire: Never use near open flames
• Store: Cool, dry place, in safe chemical containers
• Lock it up: Keep away from kids and pets

First Aid:

• Swallowed: Call for help. Do not make yourself throw up.
• Eyes/Skin: Wash lots with water. Take off dirty clothes.
• Breathed: Get fresh air.

Disposal: Throw it away as hazardous waste in a safe place. Do not flush or dump.

Chemical Names and Numbers for Barium Nitrate

• Real Name: Barium Dinitrate
• Chemical Formula: Ba(NO₃)₂
• Other Names: Barium(II) nitrate, Nitrobarite (rare mineral form)
• UN Number: Not available for all countries
• CAS Number: 10022-31-8

Barium Nitrate and the Law

Agencies that watch out for you, like OSHA, NIOSH, EPA, have set rules for barium nitrate. The safe work limits are:

• OSHA: No more than 0.5 mg per m³ all day (8 hours)
• NIOSH: Same, 0.5 mg per m³ (10 hours)
• ACGIH: 0.5 mg per m³ (8 hours)

Sources:

• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
• NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
• Barium Nitrate SDS – Fisher Scientific
• NJ.gov Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet

More Fun Facts: Barium Nitrate in History and Earth

• The mineral form of barium nitrate is called nitrobarite but it is very rare.
• Barium nitrate may have been used in old vacuum tube factories.
• It is not as common as other salts.

When You Might See Barium Nitrate

You might see barium nitrate in:

• A science class chemistry set
• A factory
• A fireworks show (green colors)
• In military gear such as tracer bullets

How to Write Ionic Compounds Like Barium Nitrate

Writing formulas for salts like barium nitrate is easy if you use the criss-cross way:

1. Take the charge from the metal (barium) and write it as the count for the nitrate group.
2. Take the charge from the nitrate and write it as the count for the metal.
3. Put parentheses around the NO₃ if there is more than one.

Example: Barium is +2, nitrate is −1 → Ba(NO₃)₂

Conclusion

Writing barium nitrate is simple: just write Ba(NO₃)₂. This shows it is made from one barium atom and two nitrate groups. Always remember safety. Barium nitrate is strong—never taste, touch, or play with it. You can find it in fireworks, glass, and even the army. Use gloves, keep it safe, and learn more before working with this powder.

Want to learn more about buying barium nitrate or finding safe suppliers? Check out Barium Nitrate, Barium Nitrate Powder, or Buy Barium Nitrate for expert help and more safe tips.

Sources:

• NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
• Barium Nitrate Safety Data Sheet
• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
• NJ.gov Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet