baryta

[buh-rahy-tuh]

noun

Chemistry.

1. Also called barium monoxide. Also called calcined baryta. Also called barium protoxide. Also called barium oxide. a white or yellowish-white poisonous solid, BaO, highly reactive with water: used chiefly as a dehydrating agent and in the manufacture of glass.

2. Also called barium hydroxide. Also called caustic baryta. Also called barium hydrate. the hydroxide, hydrated form of this compound, Ba(OH) 2 ⋅8H 2 O, used chiefly in the industrial preparation of beet sugar and for refining animal and vegetable oils.

baryta

/ bəˈraɪtə, bəˈrɪtɪk /

noun

1. another name for barium oxide barium hydroxide

Other Word Forms

• barytic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of baryta¹

1800–10; < New Latin, equivalent to bary- (< Greek barýs heavy) + -ta (< Greek -( i ) tēs -ite ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of baryta¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek barutēs weight, from barus heavy

Example Sentences

Failing in this, he found what till then was unknown, that sulphuret of baryta would "absorb the sun's rays by day, to emit them by night."

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Of or pertaining to an alkali or to alkalies; having the properties of an alkali. ÷ earths, certain substances, as lime, baryta, strontia, and magnesia, possessing some of the qualities of alkalies.

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In the eastern part of Kentucky there are well-defined deposits of lead-bearing baryta, though, up to date, their development has not proved successful.

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The binoxide of barium is pulverized and subjected to the action of carbonic acid to remove any unconverted caustic baryta present.

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In the year 1808 he succeeded in decomposing the three earths, lime, baryta and strontia, and in obtaining the metals calcium, barium and strontium, but not in a perfectly pure condition, or in any quantity.

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