Barium+2

=**Barium!** = Aidan Sullivan Element Abbreviation: **Ba**

Chemical characteristics of the element. **Barium is a alkaline earth metal that reacts with water and carbon dioxide. Its atomic number is 56, its atomic weight is 137.327. Barium also has a melting point of 727 degrees Celsius and a boiling point of 1897 degrees Celsius**. **Finally the element consists of 22 isotopes.**

Physical characteristics of the element. **Physically, barium is a dense and heavy metal. The element also has a metallic / silver outside and often has many jagged points.**

Where is this element found in nature? **Barium is mostly found in water and in the Earth's crust. In some rare forms, barium can actually be found in food and drinking water. As the 14th most common element inside the crust of the Earth, barium is abundant in minerals such as limestone and marble.**

How is the element recovered and purified? **In order to recover and purify the element in any form, barium must be obtained through the use of Barite. In other words, barite is the best way to obtain barium.**

How do we use the element? **Barium is used mostly to remove the final traces of oxygen and gases in television and other electronic tubes. Barium is also often used in the production of rubber and with drilling in oil wells.** **Medically, because barium does not dissolve in water, it is used to analyze the stomach and discover possible problems.**

What products are made from the element? **First, Barium is the main element used in creating drilling mud. Barium is also used in the making of paint, glass, brick, and tubing.**

How are these products used? **Drilling mud, created from Barium, is used in oil wells to keep drill bits clean and to make sure that no metals or drilled materials are damaged. Paint, glass, brick, and tubing are of course everyday materials that are essential in our life.**

Who uses the products? **Drilling mud is used by workers on drilling rigs. More importantly, it is used by mud engineers. These individuals are responsible for keeping a sustainable amount of drilling mud on the rigs. Furthermore, everyday workers use paint, bricks, and tubing in handyman jobs each day.**

Are there any environmental concerns due to this use? **Although the small amounts of barium in foods and water do not pose a major health risk, there is a more significant risk of health issues in people who work in an industry that uses barium. Many workers will inhale barium sulfate or carbonate and face major health issues. Also, people who live near waste sites may also become exposed to high levels of barium and any ensuing issues.**

How are waste products disposed of? **The easiest way to dispose barium is to place it in a proper waste disposal facility run by professionals. If Barium is not properly disposed, it can become hazardous.**

Is the element an important nutrient for human health? If yes: **Barium has no real nutritional value and is extremely toxic for humans. It is used solely in industry and manufacturing.**

What are the side effects of either consuming too much or not enough? **Like I said above, barium can cause health issues if too much of the element is inhaled. Not consuming barium has no effect on human health.**

Cited Sources:


 * "Barium." //Wikipedia//. 19 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .**


 * Zepper, Mathias. //Barium unter Argon Schutzgas Atmosphäre//. 2007. Photograph.**


 * "Barium - Ba." //Water Treatment Solutions//. Lenntech, 2009. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .**


 * "Drilling Fluid." //Wikipedia//. 27 Mar. 2009. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .

"The Element Barium." //Jefferson Lab//. Ed. Steve Gagnon. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .

"Barium." //Chemistry Explained//. 2009. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .**