Barium Phosphate Formula

Barium phosphate is an inorganic salt used in the chemical and optical industry as a component in the production of glasses and pulsed lasers.

Formula and structure: The chemical structure of barium phosphate is Ba₃(PO₄)₂ and its molecular weight is 295.27 g/mol. It is formed by 3 cations barium Ba²⁺ and 2 anions phosphate PO₄^3-. It is also find in their hydrated forms Ba₂(P₄O₁₂).5H₂O, Ba₃(P₃O₉)2· 6H₂O. Its chemical structure can be written as below, in the common representations used for organic molecules.

Occurrence: Barium phosphate is found in minerals and rocks, for example, jagowerite and alforsite. In many of these minerals, barium phosphate is find forming heterogeneous mixture with ions as chloride.

Preparation: Barium phosphate is prepared by the reaction of the inorganic salts barium carbonate BaCO₃ with the metaphosphoric acid.

BaCO₃ + 2HPO₃ → Ba(PO₃)₂ +CO₂ +H₂O

It can also be prepared with the salt barium chloride and sodium metaphosphate, where barium phosphate is precipitate and filtrated from the solution:

BaCl_2(aq) + 2NaPO_3(aq) → Ba(PO₃)₂ + 2NaCl

Physical properties: Barium phosphate is a colourless solid, commonly found as a powder. Its density is 3.63 g/mL and its melting point is 1560 ºC. Barium phosphate is insoluble in water, but it is soluble in acidic aqueous solutions.

Chemical properties: The chemical properties of barium phosphate can help to produce glasses with a high melting point and a high coefficient of thermal expansion. It is the reason that many industrial processes used for producing special glasses incorporate barium phosphate as a raw material.

Uses: Barium phosphate has several industrial applications, for example, it is used to produce a mixture of sodium and barium polyphosphate that are one of the component of hot glasses and other glasses with special properties. It is also used as a component of pulsed lasers and as a proton conducting material in fuel sensors.

Health effects/safety hazards: Barium phosphate is harmful if inhaled or swallowed. It can also cause skin and eyes irritation. It is not flammable.