Barium oxalate Barium oxalate Barium oxalate (BaCO), a barium salt of oxalic acid, is a white odorless powder that is sometimes used as a green pyrotechnic colorant generally in specialized pyrotechnic compositions containing magnesium. Though largely stable, barium oxalate can be reactive with strong acids. A mild skin irritant, the substance is considered toxic when ingested, causing nausea, vomiting, renal failure, and injury to the gastrointestinal tract. It is different from most pyrotechnic colorants in that it is a reducing agent and not an oxidizing agent. It is extremely insoluble in water and converts to the oxide form when heated. The raw
Calcium chlorate Calcium chlorate Calcium chlorate is the calcium salt of chloric acid, with the chemical formula Ca(ClO). Like other chlorates, it is a strong oxidizer. Calcium chlorate is produced by passing chlorine gas through a hot suspension of calcium hydroxide in water, producing calcium hypochlorite, which disproportionates when heated with excess chlorine to give calcium chlorate and calcium chloride: This is also the first step of the Liebig process for the manufacture of potassium chlorate. In theory, electrolysis of hot calcium chloride solution will give chlorate, analogous to the process used for the manufacture of sodium chlorate. In practice, electrolysis is