A systematic study of the influence of various experimental parameters on the morphology and size of BaSO4 crystals after crystallization from water in the presence of diethylenetriamine penta (methylphosphonic acid) (DETPMP) was presented. Depending on the experimental conditions, there are various crystal morphologies including flowers, ellipsoids, spheres, or conjoined spheres. The results indicated that the experimental parameters, such as the concentration of the inhibitor, the pH of solution, the aging of the particle growth, and the ratio [Ba2+]/[SO42-], are important for the morphology and size of BaSO4. The morphogenesis of BaSO4 is controlled by the chelation of DETPMP with Ba2+ at the nucleation and the surface adsorption inhibition of crystal growth. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.