Application
How do they make precipitated barium sulphate?
Precipitated barium sulfate is commonly produced through a chemical reaction between barium chloride (BaCl2) and sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) in an aqueous solution. Here's a simplified version of the reaction:
BaCl2 (aq) + Na2SO4 (aq) → BaSO4 (s) + 2NaCl (aq)
This reaction produces insoluble barium sulfate (BaSO4) as a white precipitate, while sodium chloride (NaCl) remains dissolved in the solution. The precipitate of barium sulfate is then filtered out from the solution, washed, and dried to obtain the final product.
The key steps in the production process typically involve:
Preparation of Solutions: Barium chloride and sodium sulfate are dissolved separately in water to form their respective aqueous solutions.
Mixing: The solutions of barium chloride and sodium sulfate are then mixed together. Upon mixing, the barium ions (Ba2+) from the barium chloride solution react with the sulfate ions (SO42-) from the sodium sulfate solution to form solid barium sulfate precipitate.
Precipitation: The white precipitate of barium sulfate forms as a result of the reaction. This solid is insoluble in water and separates out from the solution.
Filtration: The precipitated barium sulfate is separated from the remaining solution by filtration. The filtrate, which contains soluble sodium chloride, passes through the filter paper, leaving the solid barium sulfate behind.
Washing: The collected barium sulfate is typically washed with water to remove any impurities or remaining soluble salts adhering to its surface.
Drying: Finally, the washed barium sulfate precipitate is dried to remove any residual moisture, resulting in the formation of the final product, which is a fine white powder.
This process is widely used in various industries, including the chemical, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing sectors, where barium sulfate finds applications in areas such as paints, coatings, plastics, and medical diagnostics.