Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: EvilFrog on 12/10/2009 14:34:31

Title: barium sulfate and barium carbonate
Post by: EvilFrog on 12/10/2009 14:34:31
why barium carbonate is much more poisonous than barium sulfate?
Title: barium sulfate and barium carbonate
Post by: lightarrow on 12/10/2009 14:45:41
Quote from: EvilFrog on 12/10/2009 14:34:31
why barium carbonate is much more poisonous than barium sulfate?
Because, even if is water insoluble, it reacts with HCl inside the stomach, producing Ba(Cl)2 which is water soluble and so it forms Ba2+ ions, which are the real toxic chemical.
BaSO4 instead is water insoluble and don't dissolve enough in HCl to form a toxic concentration of Ba2+ ions. To dissolve it significantly with an acid you would need a much stronger acid, for example concentrated sulfuric acid, and, luckily, we don't have it inside our stomach  [:)].

Of course all of this has a meaning if we consider oral ingestion only of those chemicals...
Title: barium sulfate and barium carbonate
Post by: EvilFrog on 12/10/2009 14:54:41
Yup! thanks for reply.
Title: barium sulfate and barium carbonate
Post by: EvilFrog on 12/10/2009 15:01:39
Why change "sulphate" into "sulfate"?
Title: barium sulfate and barium carbonate
Post by: lightarrow on 12/10/2009 18:46:17
Quote from: EvilFrog on 12/10/2009 15:01:39
Why change "sulphate" into "sulfate"?
Because I never remember how to write it...
P.S. forgive a poor italian man [:)]
Title: barium sulfate and barium carbonate
Post by: EvilFrog on 14/10/2009 17:15:53
Nvr mind, lightarrow. Then, who else can answer me? Chris? Bored chemist?