Identifying Barium Minerals

Flame test. Barium minerals, with the exception of barium silicates, when heated intensely give a yellowish green flame color.

Precipitation as Barium Sulphate. Barium is precipitated as barium sulphate, BaSO4, from an acid solution by the addition of dilute sulfuric acid. The precipitate is white and finely divided and being very insoluble will form in a quite dilute solution (distinction from calcium and strontium).

Alkaline Reaction. Barium is an alkaline earth metal. When a mineral contains barium in combination with a volatile acid, it will give, after ignition, a residue which will react alkaline on a piece of moistened turmeric paper.