barium

[ bair-ee-uh m, bar- ]
/ ˈbɛər i əm, ˈbær- /

noun Chemistry.

a whitish, malleable, active, divalent, metallic element, occurring in combination chiefly as barite or as witherite. Symbol: Ba; atomic weight: 137.34; atomic number: 56; specific gravity: 3.5 at 20°C.

Origin of barium

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

Words nearby barium

barista, barit., barite, baritone, baritone clef, barium, barium 140, barium bromate, barium carbonate, barium chloride, barium chromate

Example sentences from the Web for barium

British Dictionary definitions for barium

barium
/ (ˈbɛərɪəm) /

noun

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

Word Origin for barium

C19: from bar ( yta) + -ium

Medical definitions for barium

barium
[ bâr′ē-əm, băr′- ]

n. Symbol Ba

A soft alkaline-earth metal that is a component in compounds used in radiography and as radiopaque media. Atomic number 56.

Scientific definitions for barium

barium
[ bâr′ē-əm ]

Ba

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. See Periodic Table.