Barium Carbonate
barium carbonate
[′bar·ē·əm ′kär·bə·nət]Barium Carbonate
BaCO3, a salt; colorless crystals with a density of 4.3–4.4 g/cm3 and a melting point of 1740° C. Poorly soluble in water (20 mg per liter at 18° C) and highly soluble in hydrochloric and nitric acids. Barium carbonate is found in nature in the form of the mineral witherite. It is produced from barium sulfide by the reaction BaS + H2O + CO2 = BaCO3 + H2S. It is used in producing other barium compounds, in softening water, and in the manufacture of optical glass, enamels, and glazes.