A white compound, BaCl₂. The anhydrous compound has two crystalline forms: an α‎ form (monoclinic; r.d. 3.856), which transforms at 962°C to a β‎ form (cubic; r.d. 3.917; m.p. 963°C; b.p. 1560°C). There is also a dihydrate, BaCl₂.2H₂O (cubic; r.d. 3.1), which loses water at 113°C. It is prepared by dissolving barium carbonate (witherite) in hydrochloric acid and crystallizing out the dihydrate. The compound is used in the extraction of barium by electrolysis.