Metals in Medicine

Barium is used to see inside our bodies

Periodic Table with Barium highlighted

'Barium meals' and 'barium enemas' (barium sulfate) are given to patients suffering from digestive disorders. Barium absorbs X-rays and therefore when it is swallowed, it can be used to produce X-ray images of the intestines and any blockages are revealed.

But barium compounds are generally poisonous so how can it be swallowed? Barium sulfate is the compound used because it is INSOLUBLE in water and therefore cannot be absorbed by the body.

Soluble barium compounds are poisonous.
Barium nitrate (1) and sodium sulphate (2) are both soluble in water but if you add them together, an insoluble milky solution of BARIUM SULPHATE (3) is formed which is insoluble and safe to swallow

Soluble barium compounds are poisonous. Barium nitrate (1) and sodium sulphate (2) are both soluble in water but if you add them together, an insoluble milky solution of BARIUM SULPHATE (3) is formed which is insoluble and safe to swallow

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Metals Are Essential for Life - Lithium treats mental illness - Carbonate - Why Are Fizzy Drinks Bad for our Teeth? - Iron compounds are essential to life - Iron Makes Our blood red - How Do We Get Energy From Oxygen? - Iron is Used to Make Steel - Platinum is Used in Treating Cancer - Cis and Trans? - Titanium is used to make hip replacements - Barium is used to see inside our bodies - Lead: a toxic metal that protects us from x-rays

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