Barium peroxide Barium peroxide Barium peroxide is the inorganic compound with the formula BaO. This white solid (gray when impure) is one of the most common inorganic peroxides, and it was the first peroxide compound discovered. Being an oxidizer and giving a vivid green colour upon ignition (as do all barium compounds), it finds some use in fireworks; historically, it was also used as a precursor for hydrogen peroxide. Barium peroxide is a peroxide, containing subunits. The solid is isomorphous to calcium carbide, CaC. Barium peroxide arises by the reversible reaction of O with barium oxide. The peroxide forms around 500 °C
Barium oxide at 1175K. The reaction was used as a large scale method to produce oxygen before the air separation became the dominant method in the beginning of the 20th century. The method was named after its inventors the Brin process. Barium oxide is made by heating barium carbonate. It may also be prepared by thermal decomposition of barium nitrate. Likewise, it is often formed through the decomposition of other barium salts. Barium oxide is an irritant. If it contacts the skin or the eyes or is inhaled it causes pain and redness. However, it is more dangerous when ingested. It can