Bao Lewis Structure,Characteristics:13 Quick Facts To Know

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In this article we are going to discuss the bao lewis structure and 13 important facts regarding its structure and characteristics.

Barium oxide is formed when barium is burned in presence of Oxygen. It is white crystal cubic structure solid which is non-flammable as well as hygroscopic in nature. The cathode ray tube is composed of bao. It is also used in making crown glasses and as a catalyst.

Bao Lewis Structure Drawing

Bao is formed by two elements i.e. one is barium (Ba) and other is oxygen (O). Ba is a member of alkaline earth metal i.e. group (II) and oxygen is a member of group 16. Barium has atomic number 56. Its electronic configuration is [Xe] 6s2. When it losses two electron from 6s orbital it acquires the nearest noble gas configuration i.e. Xe (Z=54).

When Ba atom losses 2 electrons Ba+2 ion is formed. In case of oxygen, it has atomic number 8. Its electronic configuration is [He]2s22p4. When it gains 2 electrons it gets nearest noble gas configuration of Ne in which octet is fulfilled. Then Ba+2 and O2- ions are attached by electrostatic force of attraction which is a strong force and bao is formed.

bao lewis structure
Lewis structure of BaO

BaO Lewis Structure Resonance

Resonance is an empirical process in which electrons moves from one atom to another by losing and gaining of electrons. Barium Oxide is a neutral molecule having zero formal charge (f.c) on it. When resonance takes place BaO breaks into Ba+2 ion and O2- ion.

Both barium and oxide ion are stabilized because both possess stable nearest noble gas configuration after resonance i.e. barium ion acquires Xenon (Xe) noble electronic configuration and Oxide ion acquires Neon (Ne) noble gas configuration, both the ions fulfill their octet after resonance.

Bao Lewis structure shape

According to VSEPR theory bao has octahedral co-ordination geometry. In the crystal structure of bao 6 Ba2+ ions are surrounding by 6 O2- ions and 6 O2- ions are surround by 6 Ba2+ ions.

For this reason both Ba2+ and O2- ions have co-ordination number equals to 6. As because bao has octahedral shape it possess d2sp3 hybridization.

Bao Lewis Structure Formal Charges

In barium oxide overall formal charge on the compound is Zero. Bao ionizes to form Ba2+ and O2- ions. Barium has +2 formal charges which are neutralized by Oxygen 2- formal charge.

In the cubic crystal lattice structure of barium oxide 6 Ba2+ ions are surround by 6 O2- ions and 6 O2- ions are surrounded by 6 Ba2+ ions making the whole compound is neutral.

Bao Lewis structure angle

As we seen form bao lewis structure, bao has octahedral shape with d2sp3 hybridization and according to octahedral geometry the angle should be 900. Bao also possess the same bond angle which is equal to 900.

Bao Lewis Structure Octet Rule

In the bao lewis structure both barium and Oxygen atom fulfilled their octet. When bao is formed barium lost its two electrons to acquire the nearest noble gas configuration of Xe which have 8 electrons in its valance shell (5s25p6).i.e. octet is fulfilled.

Oxygen atom gains two electrons which is rejected by barium atom to possess the nearest noble gas configuration of neon which also possessed 8 valance electrons (2s22p6). Hence both barium and oxygen atom fulfilled their octet.

Bao Lewis Structure Lone Pairs

When we see the bao lewis structure zero lone pair present on Ba and 2 lone pair of electrons present on oxide ion.

This is because of the fact that barium losses its two electron to form Ba2+ion which does not have any lone pair of electron on it. But Oxygen atom gains two electrons which is rejected by Ba atom and is converted into O2- ion in which two lone pair of electrons present.

Bao Valance Electrons

Firstly to find out the total valance electron in Bao, it is essential to know the electronic configuration of Ba and O atom. The electronic configuration of Ba is [Xe] 6s2 and we see from electronic configuration that there are 2 electrons in valance shell of Ba atom.

The electronic configuration of O atom is [He]2s2 2p4. There is 6 electrons in the valance shell of O atom. The total valance electrons that exist on bao will be equal to the (sum of the valance electron of Ba and O atom) i.e. equals to (1*2)+(6*1)=8. There are 8 valance electrons in bao.

Bao Hybridization

When bao breaks down Ba+2 and O2-ion is formed. Barium oxide exists in a cubic crystal like lattice structure. Both barium and oxygen possess d2sp3 hybridization i.e. bao has octahedral co-ordination geometry.

In the crystal lattice structure of barium oxide each Ba+2 ion is surrounded by six O2- ions and each O2-ion is surrounded by six Ba+2ions. Hence both barium ion and oxide ion have same co-ordination number which is equal to 6.

Bao Solubility

In bao due to higher electronegativity of O and lower electronegativity of Ba atom it exists in Ba2+ and O2- ions i.e. opposite dipoles are produced. As different dipoles created on Ba2+ and O2- ions it is polar in nature and it is soluble in polar solvents.

It is soluble in ethanol (C2H5OH), dilute mineral acids like HCl, HBr, HI etc and also soluble in alkalies like NaOH, KOH etc. But it is insoluble in nonpolar solvents like acetone, ether, liquid ammonia. When barium oxide reacts with water it forms barium hydroxide [Ba(OH)2] which is alkaline in nature.

Capture 47
Reaction of BaO with Water

Is BaO Ionic?

Bao is an ionic compound. This is due to the fact that bao dissociates to give Ba2+ and O2- ions when it dissolves in aqueous solution or in molten state. This is an important characteristic of ionic compound.

It also conducts electricity in aqueous or in molten state. This is due to the presence of Ba2+ and O2- ions in both the states and we know that ions carry current. Like ionic compounds bao is soluble in polar solvents e.g. water, ethanol etc.

Is Bao Polar Or Nonpolar?

Barium Oxide is a polar compound. This is because in barium oxide both barium and oxygen have different electronegativity and hence opposite dipole creates on barium and oxygen.

Due to less electronegativity of barium it accommodates positive dipole on it and due to higher electronegativity of O atom it possesses negative dipole. As because opposite dipole formed in barium Oxide, it is an ionic compound with high dipole moment. Hence bao is a polar compound.

Is BaO acidic or basic?

Ba has a tendency to loss electrons i.e. it is metallic in nature. This is because of the fact that Ba has lower electronegativity and also it acquires stable noble gas electronic configuration of Xe by losing 2 electrons.

We know that the oxide of a metal is basic in nature i.e. when basic oxide reacts with water it forms alkalies. In the similar way when bao reacts with water, it forms basic hydroxide i.e. barium hydroxide which is alkaline in nature. This is because it gives OH- ions in solution.

Conclusion

By considering the above mentioned facts we can conclude that bao is a stable ionic compound. As it is an ionic compound it is polar in nature as well as soluble in polar solvents and bao is a basic oxide because it is an oxide of a metal i.e. Ba.

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