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barium

Definition

Barium is a chemical element with the symbol Ba and atomic number 56. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal that is found in nature as the mineral barite. Barium is a heavy metal that is toxic in high doses.

Barium is used in a variety of applications, including:

  • Medical imaging: Barium sulfate is used as a contrast agent in X-rays and CT scans.
  • Fireworks: Barium salts are used to create the green colour in fireworks.
  • Glassmaking: Barium is added to glass to make it opaque and to improve its chemical resistance.
  • Batteries: Barium is used in some types of batteries.

Barium is a relatively rare element, and it is not found in high concentrations in the Earth's crust. However, it is a relatively abundant element in the universe, and it is thought to be present in the sun and other stars.

How can the word be used?

Barium is used in X-rays and CT scans to highlight the digestive tract.

barium

Different forms of the word

Noun:

barium (a chemical element with the symbol Ba and atomic number 56).

Adjective:

barium (of or relating to barium).

Verb:

to barium (to treat with barium).

Etymology

The word "barium" comes from the Greek word "barys", which means "heavy". The element barium was discovered in 1774 by Carl Scheele, a Swedish chemist. Scheele found barium in the mineral barite, which is also known as heavy spar.

Question

What can barium be used to make?

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