Barium perchlorate

Barium perchlorate

Names
IUPAC name Barium perchlorate
Other names Barium diperchlorate Perchloric acid, barium salt
Identifiers
Jmol-3D images	Image
SMILES [O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O.[O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O.[Ba+2]
Properties
Chemical formula	BaCl2O8 Ba(ClO4)2
Molar mass	336.228 g/mol
Appearance	White solid
Odor	Odorless
Density	3.2 g/cm3 (20 °C)
Melting point	470–505 °C (878–941 °F; 743–778 K)
Boiling point	Decomposes
Solubility in water	198 g/100 ml (25 °C)
Solubility	Soluble in acetone, ethanol Insoluble in diethyl ether
Solubility in acetone	125 g/100 ml (25 °C)
Solubility in ammonia	67.2 g/100 ml
Solubility in butanol	58.2 g/100 ml (20 °C)
Solubility in ethanol	125 g/100 ml (25 °C)
Solubility in isobutanol	56.2 g/100 ml (20 °C)
Vapor pressure	~0 mmHg
Thermochemistry
Std molar entropy (So298)	251 J·mol-1·K-1
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfHo298)	-774 kJ/mol
Hazards
Safety data sheet	Sigma-Aldrich
Related compounds
Related compounds	Barium chloride Barium chlorate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Barium perchlorate (Ba(ClO₄)₂) is a powerful oxidizing agent, mainly used in pyrotechnics.

Properties

Chemical

Barium perchlorate decomposes when heated to high temperatures to liberate oxygen.

Addition of conc. sulfuric acid will produce anhydrous perchloric acid. The resulting barium sulfate is insoluble in solvents, thus the perchloric acid can be purified by simply filtering the product.

H₂SO₄ + Ba(ClO₄)₂ → 2 HClO₄ + BaSO₄ ↓

Physical

Barium perchlorate is a white solid, soluble in water.

Availability

Some fireworks may contain barium perchlorate.

Barium perchlorate can be bought from chemical suppliers.

Preparation

Can be prepared by reacting perchloric acid with barium oxide, hydroxide or carbonate. The resulting barium perchlorate solution is then concentrated and cooled to recrystallize the salt.

2 HClO₄ + BaO → Ba(ClO₄)₂ + H₂O

2 HClO₄ + Ba(OH)₂ → Ba(ClO₄)₂ + 2 H₂O

2 HClO₄ + BaCO₃ → Ba(ClO₄)₂ + H₂O + CO₂

Another route involves the reaction between barium chloride and silver perchlorate.

BaCl₂ + 2 AgClO₄ → Ba(ClO₄)₂ + 2 AgCl ↓

Projects

• Make flash powder
• Make concentrated perchloric acid
• Make transition metal perchlorates

Handling

Safety

Barium perchlorate is a strong oxidizer and also toxic if ingested.

Storage

In closed bottles, away from combustible materials.

Disposal

Barium perchlorate, like other perchlorates, can be reduced with elemental iron in the absence of air under UV light to barium chloride, which in term can be precipitated to barium sulfate, which has low toxicity and can be safely disposed of.