Used in the production of heat treatment salts for metals, barium chloride solution serves as a source of barium in electroplating processes. It is employed in the purification of brine in caustic chlorine plants and acts as a precipitant for sulfate ions in industrial wastewater treatment. In laboratories, it is commonly used to test for the presence of sulfate ions, forming a white precipitate of barium sulfate. It also finds use in the manufacture of pigments and certain types of rubber. Due to its toxicity, handling requires strict safety controls.