barium

/'beəriəm/

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Word: Barium

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Barium is a soft, silvery metallic element that belongs to a group of elements known as the alkaline earth metals. It is often found in a mineral called barite.

Basic Explanation:

• Barium is a chemical element that is used in various applications, especially in medicine and industry. It is not something you would encounter in everyday life unless you are studying chemistry or working in a field that uses it.

Usage Instructions:

• You would typically use "barium" when discussing chemistry, medicine, or materials science. It's important to remember that "barium" is a technical term.

Example Sentence:

• "The doctor ordered a barium swallow test to help diagnose the patient’s gastrointestinal issues."

Advanced Usage:

• In chemistry, barium is represented by the symbol Ba and has an atomic number of 56. It is known for its high density and is used in various compounds, such as barium sulfate, which is used in medical imaging.

Word Variants:

• Barium sulfate: A compound of barium used in medical imaging.
• Barium carbonate: Another compound of barium often used in the production of ceramics.

Different Meanings:

• In a scientific context, "barium" primarily refers to the chemical element. There are no common alternative meanings in everyday language.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "barium" as it is a specific element. However, related terms might include:
  • Alkaline earth metal (referring to its group in the periodic table).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to "barium." It is mainly used in scientific contexts.

Summary:

Barium is a chemical element that is important in various scientific fields, especially in medicine for diagnostic imaging.

Academic

Noun

1. a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group; found in barite

Synonyms

• Ba
• atomic number 56