What is Magnesium Sulfate?

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Magnesium sulfate (or magnesium sulphate) is a chemical compound containing magnesium, sulfur and oxygen, with the formula MgSO₄. It is often encountered as the heptahydrate epsomite (MgSO₄•7H₂O), commonly called Epsom salt, from the town of Epsom in Surrey, England. Another hydrate (substance consisting water) form is kieserite (MgSO₄.H₂O). Kieserite is a highly unstable magnesium sulfate mineral. Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral. Magnesium is important for many systems in the body especially the muscles and nerves. Magnesium sulfate also increases water in the intestines, which may induce defecation.

What are the properties of Magnesium Sulfate?

• Magnesium sulfate is a White-crystalline solid.
• Magnesium sulfate (or magnesium sulphate) is a chemical compound containing magnesium, sulfur and oxygen, with the molecular formula MgSO₄.
• Magnesium sulfate is the primary substance that causes the absorption of sound in seawater. Absorption, in this case, means the conversion of acoustic energy to heat energy. The conversion is a strong function of frequency. Lower frequencies are less affected by the salt, so that the acoustic energy travels much farther in the ocean.
• Anhydrous (substance without water) magnesium sulfate is used as a drying agent. Since the anhydrous form is hygroscopic (readily absorbs water from the air) and is therefore difficult to weigh accurately, the hydrate is often favored when preparing solutions, for instance in medical preparations. Epsom salt has been traditionally used as a component of bath salts.
• The other name of magnesium sulfate is Bitter salts.
• The density of Magnesium sulfate is 2.66 g/cm cube.
• The melting point is 1124 degree centigrade (anhydrous).

Where is Magnesium Sulfate found?

Magnesium sulfates are common minerals in geological environments. Their occurrence is mostly connected with supergene processes. Some of them are also important constituents of evaporated potassium-magnesium (K-Mg) salts deposits. Supergene processes include the predominance of long standing water in the ground (Meteoric water) circulation with oxidation (loss of electrons).

What are the Hydrates of magnesium Sulfate?

• More or less all known mineralogical forms of MgSO₄ occur as hydrates.
• Epsomite is the natural analogue of "Epsom salt".
• Hepta hydrate, MgSO₄•7H₂O, has seven water molecules associated with it and is often used for medical purposes.
• Another Heptahydrate, the copper-containing mineral alpersite (Mg,Cu)SO₄•7H₂O, was also recently documented.
• MgSO₄•11H₂O, which is assumed to occur on planet Mars.
• Hexahydrite (has six water molecules) is the next lower (6) hydrate.
• The three other lower hydrates are pentahydrite (5), starkeyite (4) and especially sanderite (2) are more rarely found.
• Kieserite is a monohydrate (1 water molecule) and is common.

What are the applications of Magnesium Sulfate?

• In agriculture and gardening, magnesium sulfate is used to correct magnesium deficiency in soil.
• Magnesium sulfate is used in bath salts (salts added to a bath tub to improve cleaning), particularly in flotation therapy where high concentrations raise the bath water's specific gravity, effectively making the body more relaxed. Floatation therapy uses an isolation tank which is a lightless, soundproof tank inside which subjects float in salt water at skin temperature.
• Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate is also used to maintain the magnesium concentration in marine aquaria.
• Magnesium sulfate can also be absorbed into the You do not have access to view this node, reducing inflammation.

What are the medicinal uses of Magnesium Sulphate?

• Magnesium sulfate can be used to treat Pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, an acute and life-threatening complication of pregnancy which is the high blood-pressure.
• Magnesium sulphate is a replacement therapy for hypomagnesemia (abnormally low level of magnesium in blood).
• Intravenous (giving substance directly into a vein) magnesium sulfate may be able to prevent pre-term babies.
• Magnesium sulfate solution has also been shown to be an effective aid to fight against blemishes and acne when applied directly to problematic areas.
• Oral magnesium sulfate is commonly used as a saline laxative.
• Epsom salt is also available in a gel form for topical application in treating aches and You do not have access to view this node.

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