Barium Sulphate 99 +%, pure

What is Barium Sulphate?

Barium sulfate is an anhydrous crystalline mineral chemical composed of sulfate anions and barium cations, with the chemical formula BaSO4. It is also a natural mineral, which is called barite or commonly called barite by mineralogists.

It is an ionic solid, colorless to white in the pure state, crystallizing in the orthorhombic system, and with a high density of 4.48 due to the barium cation. In its natural state it forms flat table-shaped crystals, sometimes grouped in the form of "barite rosettes", sometimes arranged in lamellae.

The mineral exposed to UV often shows fluorescence and phosphorescence. The thermoluminescence is sometimes reported.

It is practically insoluble in water and other conventional solvents. It is soluble in HI. Barium sulfate is listed as one of the most insoluble sulfate salts known in water.

What is Barium Sulphate used for?

So-called opacification suspensions of barium sulfate, taken by patients, are often used to produce high-contrast x-rays of the digestive system, as this sulfate mineral is believed to remain insoluble even when tested with acidic gastric juices. The opaque effect in radiology is explained by the strong absorption of X-rays by the barium cation.

The absorption of gamma rays explains its use in certain dense types of concrete that the engineer wants to be impermeable to radiation.

Three-quarters of the extracted barite is used to increase or better adjust the density of deep drilling mud, for example during oil extraction.

Barium sulfate, in clusters of small, fine crystals, is also a well-known white pigment in paints and a mineral filler in paper. In painting (construction or artistic) and plastering it is used as a filler and pigment (solid white), because of its low opacity and because it does not affect the colors.

It is used in medical radiology as a contrast and modifies the absorption of X-rays. Conventional radiology detects contrasts greater than 4%, making it easier to visualize bones or lungs, for example. It is also called "barium gruel" when examining the digestive tract.

It is part of the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.

Buy barium sulfate?

You can buy high-quality barium sulfate at Laboratoriumdiscounter. Delivered quickly and available in different packaging.

Technical data:

Empirical formula BaSO4
Molar mass (M) 233.4 g/mol
Melting point (mp) 1580 °C
CAS no. [7727-43-7]

Downloads