Barium Carbonate

Barium carbonate is an insoluble inorganic salt that occurs naturally as the mineral witherite. It is insoluble in water but soluble in acids. Barium carbonate is commonly used in industrial applications due to its unique properties.

Chemical Formula: BaCO₃

Appearance: White crystalline solid.

Uses:

• Pharmaceuticals: Barium carbonate may be used as a starting material for the preparation of barium sulfate suspensions or solutions for use in diagnostic radiology, such as barium enemas or barium swallow tests.

• Glass and Ceramic Industry: Barium carbonate is used as a flux in the production of certain types of glass, such as optical glass and specialty glassware. It helps reduce the melting temperature of the glass batch and improve its optical properties.

• Pigments and Paints: It is used as a component in the production of white pigments, such as lithopone, which are used in the manufacturing of paints, coatings, and printing inks. It provides opacity, brightness, and covering power to the finished products.

• Biomedical Research: It may be added to cell culture media in biomedical research laboratories to help maintain cell viability and protect cells from oxidative stress during experiments.

• Metallurgy: It acts as a deoxidizer or flux in steelmaking processes to remove impurities, such as sulfur, from molten steel. It helps improve the quality of the steel and reduces the formation of non-metallic inclusions.

• Additional Applications: In the production of bricks and tiles, barium carbonate may be used as a flux to enhance the firing process and improve the properties of the final products.