Barium nitrate fighters, such as the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire, during the Battle of Britain. It is also used in the manufacturing process of barium oxide, the vacuum tube industry and for green fire in pyrotechnics. Like all soluble barium compounds, barium nitrate is toxic by ingestion or inhalation. Solutions of sulfate salts such as Epsom salts or sodium sulfate may be given as first aid for barium poisoning, as they precipitate the barium as the insoluble (and non-toxic) barium sulfate. Inhalation may also cause irritation to the respiratory tract. While skin or eye contact is less harmful than ingestion or
Barium carbonate barium sulfide either by treatment with sodium carbonate at 60 to 70 °C (soda ash method) or by passing carbon dioxide at 40 to 90 °C. In the soda ash process, solid or dissolved sodium carbonate is added to barium sulfide solution, and the barium carbonate precipitate is filtered, washed and dried. Barium carbonate reacts with acids such as hydrochloric acid to form soluble barium salts, such as barium chloride: However, the reaction with sulfuric acid is poor, because barium sulfate is highly insoluble. Barium carbonate is widely used in the ceramics industry as an ingredient in glazes. It acts