Barium carbonate is achemical compound. Itschemical formula is BaCO3. It containsbarium andcarbonateions.
Barium carbonate is a white solid. It does not dissolve in water. It reacts withacids to make bariumsalts. It turns intobarium oxide andcarbon dioxide when heated. It reacts withsulfuric acid to makebarium sulfate though.
Barium carbonate occurs aswitherite. Witherite is the main source of barium salts. It is more easily turned into other barium compounds than barium sulfate, barite. It is heavily mined inNorthumberland. It turns into barium sulfate when water containing sulfates flows through it.
It can be purified from the natural ore, or it can be made by reactingbarium sulfide withsodium carbonate. It can also be made by reacting barium sulfide with a mixture of carbon dioxide and water.
Barium carbonate is used to poisonrats. It is also used in makingbricks. It is also used to glazeceramics. This glaze can make different colors.
Barium carbonate can dissolve in stomach acid, so it is toxic. There is acontroversy over whether it should be used as a glaze.