Barium Sulfate

BaSO₄

IUPAC: Barium sulfate

CAS: 7727-43-7

Overview

Barium sulfate is an extremely insoluble salt used as a radiocontrast agent for X-ray imaging and in oil well drilling.

Composition

Element Symbol Atoms Atomic Mass
Oxygen O 4 15.9990
Sulfur S 1 32.0600
Barium Ba 1 137.3300

Elemental Composition

O
Oxygen ×4
27.4%
S
Sulfur ×1
13.7%
Ba
Barium ×1
58.8%

Uses

  • • Medical imaging (barium swallow)
  • • Oil drilling mud
  • • White pigment
  • • Paper coating

Fun Facts

  • ✦ Despite barium being toxic, BaSO₄ is safe to ingest because it is so insoluble it passes through the body unchanged

Structure

SMILES

[O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-].[Ba+2]

Properties

Type
salt
State
solid
Molar Mass
233.39 g/mol
Density
4.5000 g/cm³
Melting Point
1580.0 °C
Solubility
0.00245 g/L at 25°C

Molecular Descriptors

Exact Mass
233.8570
TPSA
88.6 Ų
H-Bond Donors
0
H-Bond Acceptors
4
Rotatable Bonds
0
Heavy Atoms
6
Complexity
62.0

Related Compounds

Ammonium Bicarbonate

NH₄HCO₃

Ammonium Chloride

NH₄Cl

Ammonium Sulfate

(NH₄)₂SO₄

Barium Carbonate

BaCO₃

Barium Chloride

BaCl₂

Cadmium Sulfide

CdS

Calcium Acetate

Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂

Calcium Carbonate

CaCO₃

Calcium Citrate

Ca₃(C₆H₅O₇)₂

Calcium Fluoride

CaF₂

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Barium Sulfate?
Barium Sulfate (BaSO₄) is a salt compound with the IUPAC name Barium sulfate.
What is the molecular weight of Barium Sulfate?
Barium Sulfate has a molar mass of 233.39 g/mol.
What state is Barium Sulfate at room temperature?
Barium Sulfate is a solid at room temperature.
Is Barium Sulfate organic or inorganic?
Barium Sulfate is classified as an inorganic compound.
What elements make up Barium Sulfate?
Barium Sulfate (BaSO₄) is composed of Oxygen (O), Sulfur (S), Barium (Ba).