Magnesium sulfate

  • Epsom Salt
  • Epsom salt
  • Epsomite
  • MgSO4
  • MgSO4 · 7 H2O
  • 7487-88-9 (magnesium sulfate)
  • 10034-99-8 ( MgSO4 · 7 H2O)
  • A06AD04
  • A12CC02
  • B05XA05
  • D11AX05
  • V04CC02

Colorless solid

Fixed

2.66 g · cm -3 ( MgSO4 ) 1.68 g · cm -3 ( MgSO4 · 7 H2O)

1124 ° C ( decomposition)

  • Readily soluble in water: 300 g · l-1 (20 ° C) ( MgSO4 )
  • 710 g · l-1 (20 ° C) ( MgSO4 · 7 H2O)

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Magnesium sulfate MgSO4 is next to magnesium hydrogen sulfate Mg ( HSO 4 ) 2 one of the two magnesium salts of sulfuric acid. This occurs as a mineral epsomite heptahydrate MgSO4 · 7 H2O ( heptahydrate ) received the bitter taste due to the trivial names of Epsom salts.

Epsomite

Occurrence

In nature, magnesium sulfate is mainly used as Kieserit, a monohydrate, before. In addition to the monohydrate Magnesium Sulfate come more than minerals with different water content before: Pentahydrit ( pentahydrate ), hexahydrite (hexahydrate ), epsomite ( heptahydrate ).

Production

Magnesium sulphate can be prepared from magnesium and sulfuric acid according to the following reaction equation:

Furthermore, it results from the reaction of magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide with sulfuric acid and subsequent evaporation of the water and drying:

Properties

Magnesium sulfate is a colorless, odorless, highly hygroscopic solid with a bitter taste. There are several hydrates, of which the most important is the magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, MgSO4 · 7 H2O (synonym: Epsom salt, mineral epsomite ) is.

Epsomite forms colorless crystals, which form a rhombic pseudotetragonales crystal lattice. The crystals often bloom into fibrous aggregates and form stalactites. Epsomite is readily soluble in water and has a density of 1.68 g / cm ³.

Use

  • Magnesium sulfate is used as a magnesium source for plants in fertilizers. Pure Epsom salt is, inter alia, used in orchards, but specifically also to prevent a browning of the needles of coniferous plants. Magnesium sulfate, contributes to an acidic soil environment, which is preferably from conifers in general. Usual is an entry of 50 g / m² in spring or late autumn. For large trees up to 200 g / m² are applied.
  • Because of its hygroscopic nature, it is used in the organic chemistry for the drying of fabrics. To this are added to the liquid to be dried as much anhydrous magnesium sulfate, to newly added magnesium sulfate in the liquid remains fine-grained and not clumped. The magnesium sulfate can be filtered off then.
  • In medicine, it takes a long time as a laxative use. His strong side effects on kidney function can - especially in children - cause problems.
  • In obstetrics MgSO4 is used as the drug of choice for treatment and prophylaxis of eclampsia associated seizures.
  • Magnesium sulfate is used in medicine for bile flow tests (see choleretic ).
  • On the treatment of torsades de point- tachycardia magnesium sulfate is administered intravenously.
  • Magnesium sulfate is used in the treatment of an acute asthma attack and also in acute myocardial infarction.
  • MgSO4 is used in floating plants in order to produce a highly saturated brine, to which a body can be without hiding.
  • Magnesium sulphate solution is used as electrolyte replacement or regeneration solution for lead-acid batteries
CAS registry number Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System Kieserite Soil pH
129921
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