Barium sulphate

Barium Sulphate is a chemical compound with the formula BaSO4. It is a white crystalline solid that is odorless and insoluble in water. It occurs as the mineral barite, which is the main commercial source of barium and materials prepared from it.

Chemical Properties

Barium sulphate is a white crystalline solid. It is insoluble in water and other traditional solvents but is soluble in concentrated sulfuric acid. The barium derivative is useful in the gravimetric analysis of sulphate. If one adds a solution of, perhaps, barium chloride to a solution containing sulphate ions, the appearance of a white precipitate, which is barium sulphate, indicates that sulphate anions are present.

Uses

Barium sulphate is used in a wide range of applications including plastics, paints, radiology and in the production of glass. In the field of medicine, it is used as a radiocontrast agent for X-ray imaging and other diagnostic procedures. It is most often used in imaging of the GI tract during what is colloquially known as a 'barium meal'.

Health and Safety

While barium is a heavy metal, and its water-soluble compounds are often highly toxic, the low solubility of barium sulphate protects the patient from absorbing harmful amounts of the metal. Barium sulphate preparations are frequently used in the field of medicine for various diagnostic procedures.

See Also

• Barium
• Sulphate
• Barite
• Radiocontrast agent