Barium carbonate, with the chemical formula BaCO3, is a significant inorganic compound renowned for its industrial applications. This white salt, akin to other alkaline earth metal carbonates, exhibits poor solubility in water and is notably found in nature as the mineral known as witherite.
Commercially, barium carbonate holds immense importance as one of the primary barium compounds. Its versatile properties make it indispensable in various industries, ranging from the production of glass and ceramics to applications in rat poison (though this use is less common today due to toxicity concerns).