who discovered barium

Barium was first identified as a new element in 1772-1774 by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele who discovered barium oxide in minerals. However, the pure metal was not isolated until 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy in England through the electrolysis of molten barium salts. Other chemists involved in early barium studies included Johan Gottlieb Gahn, who also isolated barium oxide, and Robert Bunsen, who obtained pure barium by electrolysis later in the 19th century.