Barium sulfite

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Barium sulfite (BaSO3) is an inorganic compound that appears as a white powder or crystals. It has a molar mass of about 217.39 g/mol and a density of ~4.44 g/cm³. It decomposes when heated and is only sparingly soluble in water (about 0.0011 g per 100 mL at room temperature) and insoluble in ethanol.

Uses and role
- It is an intermediate in the carbothermal reduction of barium sulfate (BaSO4) to barium sulfide (BaS).
- It can form as an intermediate during the aqueous oxidation of BaS to BaSO4 in slag weathering.
- In organic synthesis, it participates in the hydrolysis of dialdehyde starch by sulfurous acid, yielding glyoxal and erythrose. The barium sulfite can complex with glyoxal, allowing higher reagent concentrations without losing yield.