Barium is a metallic element, soft, and when pure is silvery white; it belongs to the alkaline earth group, chemically resembling calcium. The metal oxidizes very easily and should be kept under petroleum or other suitable oxygen-free liquids to exclude air. It is decomposed by water or alcohol.
Melting point: 727 °C Boiling point: 1897 °C
A rod is a uniform straight strand of a pure metal with a diameter >2mm.
