BARIUM NITRATE – OVERVIEW Chemical Formula: Ba(NO₃)₂ Molecular Weight: 261.34 g/mol Appearance: White crystalline salt, soluble in water Nature: Strong oxidizer and toxic (handled with care) ⚗️ RAW MATERIALS REQUIRED Raw Material Formula Purpose Barium Carbonate BaCO₃ Primary source of barium Nitric Acid HNO₃ Provides nitrate ion and enables neutralization Water H₂O Solvent for reaction and recrystallization 🔬 CHEMICAL REACTION 📌 Primary Reaction (Neutralization): scss Copy Edit BaCO₃ + 2 HNO₃ → Ba(NO₃)₂ + CO₂↑ + H₂O Byproduct: CO₂ gas (bubbled out) The resulting solution contains Barium Nitrate, which is then crystallized. 🏭 MANUFACTURING PROCESS ✅ Step 1: Acid Neutralization In a glass-lined or acid-resistant steel reactor, slowly add nitric acid to barium carbonate under stirring. Maintain temperature at 50–70°C to aid reaction and gas release (CO₂). Ensure complete neutralization by pH monitoring (~pH 5–6 at end point). ✅ Step 2: Filtration Filter the resulting solution to remove unreacted BaCO₃ or impurities. ✅ Step 3: Crystallization Concentrate the filtrate by evaporation until saturation. Cool the solution to room temperature or lower (~20°C) to form Ba(NO₃)₂ crystals. ✅ Step 4: Separation & Washing Filter out crystals, wash with cold distilled water to remove acidic residues. ✅ Step 5: Drying Dry in a tray dryer at 50–60°C. Avoid overheating, as decomposition may occur. 📦 TYPICAL YIELD (Per 100 kg batch) Material Quantity Barium Carbonate ~74 kg Nitric Acid (60%) ~70–75 kg Water ~100–120 L Barium Nitrate Output ~110–120 kg (depending on purity and process control) 🧯 SAFETY & HANDLING Toxic: Barium salts are poisonous — avoid ingestion and inhalation. Oxidizer: Keep away from flammable materials and reducing agents. Use PPE, fume hoods, and store in dry, sealed containers. 🏭 USES OF BARIUM NITRATE IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES Industry Application Fireworks & Pyrotechnics Produces bright green color flames, acts as oxidizer Explosives Used in military-grade detonators, flash powders Glass & Ceramics Improves gloss and thermal properties of special glasses Vacuum Tubes & Electronics Used in getter materials to remove gases Metal Surface Treatment Part of nitrating salt baths for heat treating steels Chemical Reactions Intermediate in barium compound synthesis (e.g., BaTiO₃) 🔁 Alternative Production Method (Less Common): Reacting Barium Chloride (BaCl₂) with Sodium Nitrate (NaNO₃) in solution: scss Copy Edit BaCl₂ + 2 NaNO₃ → Ba(NO₃)₂↓ + 2 NaCl This method is less economical due to the use of pure barium salts.