Chemicals
TopGeneral Information
Magnesium sulfate is also called milk of magnesia or English salt and it is the natural salt of magnesium and sulfate. The heptahydrate is commonly reffered to as Epsom salt. It is won from a reaction between sulphuric acid and a magnesium salt. The anhydrous form is very hygroscopic and used as a drying agent.[1]
TopChemical & Physical Information
| Trivial name | Magnesium sulfate |
| Chemical name | Magnesium sulfate, heptahydrate |
| Other names | Epsom salt (EN), magnesium sulfaat (NL,BE) |
| Type of chemical | Ionic compound (salt) |
| Chemical formula | MgSO4, 7H2O |
| CAS number | 1330-43-4 (anhydrous) 1303-96-4 (decahydrate) |
| Density | 1.68 g·cm-3 |
| Molar mass | 246.47 g·mol-1 |
| Melting point | 1124 °C with decomposition |
| Boiling point | n/a |
| Soluble | In water |
| Solubility (water, 20 °C) | 335 g·L-1  (anhydrous) |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Appearance | White crystalline solid |
| Colour | White |
| Safety summary | Safe |
| Safety data | MSDS |
| Storage | Dry |
| Extra | - |
Photos
(3 cm)
Sources
[1] Wikipedia
[2] Specimen from my personal collection, photo taken by me.
[3] Mullin J.W. - Crystallization, 2001
