Magnesium sulfate

 

Magnesium sulfate

Chemical formula	MgSO4
OTP appearance	white solid
Molar Mass(g/mol)	120.366
Density(g/cc)	anh:2.66 hept:1.68
Melting Point(°C)	1124 (decomp)
Solubility in water(g/L)	255
NFPA 704	0 1 0
Thermal decomposition of magnesium sulfate 11-hydrate
2	11-hydrate 2°C 7-hydate
150	7-hydrate 150°C 1-hydrate
200	1-hydrate 200°C anhydrous
1124	anhydrous 1124°C MgO,SO2.O2

Uses

Primary

• Pharm: WHO LEM, Emergency Medicine

Other

• Dessicant: heptahydrate decomposes at 150°C to monohydrate. This temperature is conveniently higher than the 100°C for boiling water, so the absorbed water will remain locked even if unabsorbed water is removed by distillation.
• Fertilizer: soluble source of both magnesium (for chlorophyll) and sulfur
• Treatment for barium/cadmium poisoning
• Treatment for cardiac arrhythmia
• Bronchodialator

Natural occurrence

• Magnesium sulfate occurs as the mineral epsomite

Production

Extraction

• Gather and grind epsomite

Synthesis

Combine Magnesium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide with sulfuric acid, giving magnesium sulfate

MgCO₃ + H₂SO₄ → MgSO₄ + CO₂ + H₂O

Mg(OH)₂ + H₂SO₄ + MgSO₄ + 2 H₂O

See Also

• Calcium chloride