barium

[ bair-ee-uhm, bar- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a whitish, malleable, active, divalent, metallic element, occurring in combination chiefly as barite or as witherite. : Ba; : 137.34; : 56; : 3.5 at 20°C.

barium

/ ˈbɛərɪəm /

noun

1. a soft silvery-white metallic element of the alkaline earth group. It is used in bearing alloys and compounds are used as pigments. Symbol: Ba; atomic no: 56; atomic wt: 137.327; valency: 2; relative density: 3.5; melting pt: 729°C; boiling pt: 1805°C

barium

/ bâr′ē-əm /

1. A soft, silvery-white metallic element of the alkaline-earth group. It occurs only in combination with other elements, especially in barite. Barium compounds are used in x-raying the digestive system and in making fireworks and white pigments. Atomic number 56; atomic weight 137.33; melting point 725°C; boiling point 1,140°C; specific gravity 3.50; valence 2.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of barium¹

First recorded in 1800–10; bar(ytes) + -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of barium¹

C19: from bar ( yta ) + -ium

Example Sentences

They found increased salinity and high concentrations of heavy metals in water nearer oil wells, as well as high concentrations of lead and barium in human hair samples.

From BBC

The system can be adapted to detect other similar contaminants in water, including cadmium, copper, lithium, barium, cesium, and radium, Ranno says.

From Science Daily

At this time, the universe was made mostly of hydrogen and helium and very low abundances of other chemical elements, such as strontium and barium.

From Science Daily

The researchers also measured how much of the element barium is contained in each of the bands.

From Science Daily

Compounds containing barium, aluminum, silicon and cobalt were ground together, pressed into a sheet, then heated to above 2550 degrees Fahrenheit to form the pigment.

From Science Daily