A white solid, Ba(OH)2, sparingly soluble in water. The common form is the octahydrate, Ba(OH)2.8H2O; monoclinic; r.d. 2.18; m.p. 78°C. It can be produced by adding water to barium monoxide or by the action of sodium hydroxide on soluble barium compounds and is used as a weak alkali in volumetric analysis.