(Gr. barys, heavy) Discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808. Not found freely in nature, but with barite and witherite.
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alkaline-earth metal, soft, silvery white when pure, oxidizes easily, decomposed by water or alcohol, metal oxides are highly reactive and are kept under petroleum, all compounds are toxic
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used for color effects in fireworks, sulfide is a white pigment, x-ray diagnostics, glassmaking, oilwell drilling fluid, making rubber, rat poison,