Barium Sulfate Nanoparticles

Barium Sulfate Nanoparticles

Barium sulfate (or sulfate) is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula BaSO4. It is a white crystalline solid that is odorless and insoluble in water. It is produced as the mineral barite, which is the main commercial source of barium and materials prepared from it. The white opaque appearance and its high density are exploited in its main applications.
Barium sulfate is used in soil tests. Soil pH tests and other soil qualities that use color markers and small particles (usually clays) in the soil can obscure the test mixture and make it difficult to see the color of the indicator. The barium sulfate added to the mixture combines these particles, making them heavier so they fall to the bottom, leaving a lighter solution.

In colorimetry, barium sulfate is used as an almost perfect diffuser when measuring light sources.

In molten metals, the molds used are usually coated with barium sulfate to prevent the molten metal from adhering to the mold.