Question

The barium ion is toxic to humans. However, barium sulfate is commonly used as an image enhancer for gastrointestinal x-rays. What does this imply about the position of the equilibrium shown below? BaSO4 Ba+2 + SO4-2?

Answer 1

It implies that the position of equilibrium lies far to the left.

Explanation:

The dose of barium ion must be about 200 mg/(kg·day) to see adverse effects.

For a 50 kg individual, this corresponds to 10 g/day of barium.

Barium sulfate is highly insoluble in water.

BaSO

4

(s)

⇌

Ba

2+

(aq)

+

SO

2-

4

(aq)

K

sp

=

1.1

×

10

-10

This corresponds to a molar concentration of

1.0

×

10

-5

l

mol/L Ba

2+

or

1.4 mg Ba/L

.

An individual would have to ingest about 7000 L of saturated

BaSO

4

solution to reach this level.

Few individuals have stomachs that are resilient enough to hold this volume.

Thus, it is quite safe to ingest barium sulfate for gastrointestinal X-rays.

I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU

Answer 2

It signalizes that the equilibrium's position lies far to the left.

• The barium ions dose should be about 200 mg(kg. day) to watch the adverse effect. For a single person of about 50 kg, this concurs to 10 g per day of barium.
• In water, barium sulfate is highly insoluble. $BaSO_4(s)$ ⇄ $Ba^{2+} (aq)+SO_4^{2-}(aq)\\K_s_p=1.1\times 10^{-10}$
• This concurs with a molar concentration of $1.0\times 10^{-5} mol/LBa^{2+}$ and $1.4mhBa/L$. A single person must have ingested a minimum of 7000 L of the solution of saturated $BaSO_4$ to complete the level. Some people have stomachs that are flexible enough to tolerate this volume. So now, it is safe to ingest barium sulfate for gastrointestinal X-rays.

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