994. Barium Sulfate

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7727-43-7
Blanc fixe; Baritop (Sakai); Barosperse (Mallinckrodt); Esophotrast (RPR); E-Z-Paque (E-Z-Em); Intestibar (Spofa); Micropaque (Guerbet); Microtrast (Guerbet); Mixobar (Byk Gulden); Neobar (Merck KGaA); Oratrast (RPR); Prontobario (Bracco); Radiopaque (Schering AG); Telebar (Guerbet); Tixobar (Astra).
BaO4S; mol wt 233.39.
Ba 58.84%, O 27.42%, S 13.74%.
BaSO4.

Description and references

Occurs in nature as the mineral barite; also as barytes, heavy spar. Prepn: Gmelins, Barium (8th ed) 30, 262-267 (1932) and supplement, 182-186, 412-414 (1960). Review of clinical use: R. F. Theoni, A. R. Margulis, Radiology 167, 7 (1988).

Properties

Fine, heavy, odorless powder or polymorphous crystals, d 4.25-4.5. Dec above 1600°. Practically insol in water (one gram dissolves in 400,000 parts), dil acids, alc. Sol in hot concd H2SO4.

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure by direct contact are irritation of eyes, nose and upper respiratory system; inhalation may cause benign pneumoconiosis. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 24.

Use

Manuf photographic papers, artificial ivory, cello-phane; filler for rubber, linoleum, oil cloth, polymeric fibers and resins, paper, lithographic inks; as a water-color pigment for colored paper, in wallpaper; as a size for modifying the colors of other pigments; in heavy concrete for radiation shield.

Therapeutic Category

Diagnostic aid (radiopaque medium).

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

X-ray contrast medium.

Keywords

Diagnostic Aid (Radiopaque Medium)