Barium

Atomic Number: 56
Symbol: Ba
Atomic Mass: 137.33 u
Number of Neutrons: 81
Melting Point: 727°C
Boiling Point: 1897°C
Electrons per shell: 2.8.18.18.8.2
Electron configuration: [Xe] 6s²

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Barium is the 56th element in the periodic table and it is an earth-alkali metal. It is a soft, silvery metal. This element is never found free in the earth's crust because it can react easily with other elements. Barium is 0.0425% in the earth's crust. The ore that it is mostly found in is baryte, a barium sulfate mineral. China, India and Morocco are the places most barium is found and exported. Barium is very dense, so it is often used in alloys. The person that discovered barium is Humphry Davy in 1808. Barium got it's name from the greek word "barys" meaning "heavy". This makes sence due to it's density. Though, Vincenzo Casciarolo named this element.

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