Characteristic

Barium carbonate (BaCO₃), also known as witherite, is a chemical compound used in rat poison, bricks, ceramic glazes and cement.

Chemical formula:BaCO₃

Molar mass:197.34 g/mol

Appearance:white crystals

Odor:odorless

Density:4.286 g/cm³

Melting point:811 °C (1,492 °F; 1,084 K)polymorphic ransformation

Boiling point:1,450 °C (2,640 °F; 1,720 K)decomposes from 1360 °C

Solubility in water:16 mg/L (8.8°C);22 mg/L (18 °C);24 mg/L (20 °C);24 mg/L (24.2 °C)

Solubility product (Ksp):2.58·10−9

Solubility decomposes in acid:insoluble in methanol

Magnetic susceptibility (χ):-58.9·10−6 cm³/mol

Refractive index (nD):1.676

Application

Barium carbonate is frequently employed in ceramic industry as a component of glazes. It is added to clay to precipitate some soluble salts while manufacturing bricks, tiles and potteries. Barium carbonate is mainly used as a raw material in the electrical engineering industries for glass production, and as a raw material in the magnet manufacturing industry.