Is barium sulfate soluble in water? | Detailed Explanation

In this essay, we will talk about the chemical problem question "Is barium sulfate soluble in water" and why is barium sulfate insoluble in water.

Is barium sulfate soluble in water?

Barium sulfate is an inorganic compound, with the chemical formula BaSO₄, which is a common precipitating reaction product. Barium sulfate has a stable crystal structure. Experiments show that at 20 degrees Celsius, only 0.0002 grams of barium sulfate can be dissolved in 100 ml of water, which means that its solubility is extremely low. So is barium sulfate soluble in water? From the above information, we can know that the answer is NO! 

Why is barium sulfate insoluble in water?

The structure of barium sulfate itself is bound to be "not intimate" with water. The ionic bond energy between barium sulfate is very high, and water has strong polarity. The small fraction of barium sulfate dissolved in water can be completely ionized when attracted by water. So barium sulfate is insoluble in water, but it is a strong electrolyte because the part of it that is soluble in water can be completely ionized.

It can be ionized because of its high bond energy, and the strong polarity of the water molecules. But that is not the reason for it to dissolve in large quantities. Ionization occurs after dissolution. What ionization can do is ionize the dissolved part, but the insoluble part can do nothing. So that is the reason to explain its insolubility with water.

Methods for increasing the solubility of barium sulfate

The solubility of barium sulfate in water is affected by temperature, almost unaffected by the basic and acidic environment. So we can use the following ways to improve the solubility.

1. Increase the temperature: The solubility of barium sulfate will increase with high temperatures, so it can be heated to promote its dissolution.

2. Use chemical reagents: Some chemical reagents, such as ammonium chloride and potassium chloride reacting with barium sulfate can form a soluble complex, thus promoting its dissolution.

In short, barium sulfate has low solubility in water, but its dissolution can be promoted by several methods. In practical application, it is necessary to choose the appropriate method according to the specific situation.

Synthesis method of barium sulfate 

After talking about the question “Is barium sulfate soluble in water”, maybe we also want to know how to produce barium sulfate. The raw material of the glauberite-black ash method is mixed with the solution of glauberite-removed calcium and magnesium, and reacts at 90 degrees Celsius to produce barium sulfate precipitation.

After pumping and filtering, washing and pickling, the pH value is adjusted with sulfuric acid to about 5, and then filtered, dried, and crushed, the precipitated barium sulfate product is obtained. The modified ultrafine precipitated barium sulfate can be prepared by adding a surface treatment agent or dispersant in the process of precipitated barium sulfate.

The application of barium sulfate

In the medical field, barium sulfate is a double contrast agent for X-rays, a high-density gastrointestinal contrast agent, which can be made into suspension of different proportions for use alone. It is usually used together with low-density gas to achieve the purpose of double imaging. Contrast agents are chemicals taken into human tissues or organs to enhance image observation. The density of these articles is higher or lower than that of the surrounding tissue, forming a contrast with the image displayed with certain instruments.

Barium sulfate is used in the production of image paper and coated paper surface coating agents, and glass product clarifying agents. It is also used as an analytical reagent in the pharmaceutical industry and used as a clarifying agent in glass products, which can play the role of defoaming and increasing luster. It is used in ceramics, spices and pigments, and can also be used as a protective wall material against radiation effects.

Conclusion: 

Finally, we will give a conclusion on the topic of “Is barium sulfate soluble in water”. Barium sulfate is a water-insoluble compound. The insolubility of barium sulfate in water is directly related to its chemical structure. There are several methods for the production of barium sulfate, and this article simply introduces one of the common methods. Although barium sulfate is insoluble in water, it is widely used in many fields such as medical treatment.