Magnesium sulfate

This article is about the chemical compound. For medical uses, see Magnesium sulfate (medical use).

Magnesium sulfate or magnesium sulphate is a chemical compound, a salt with the formula MgSO₄, consisting of magnesium cations Mg²⁺ (20.19% by mass) and sulfate anions SO2−4. It is a white crystalline solid, soluble in water but not in ethanol.

Magnesium sulfate

Magnesium sulfate hexahydrate
Anhydrous magnesium sulfate
Epsomite (Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate)
Names
IUPAC name Magnesium sulfate
Other names Epsom salt (Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate) English salt Bitter salts Bath salt
Identifiers
CAS Number	7487-88-9 (anhydrous)^Y 14168-73-1 (monohydrate)^Y 24378-31-2 (tetrahydrate)^Y 15553-21-6 (pentahydrate)^Y 13778-97-7 (hexahydrate)^Y 10034-99-8 (heptahydrate)^Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:32599^Y CHEBI:31795 (heptahydrate)
ChEMBL	ChEMBL2021423^N ChEMBL3989857 (heptahydrate)
ChemSpider	22515^Y
DrugBank	DB00653^Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.028.453
EC Number	231-298-2
KEGG	C12505 (heptahydrate)
PubChem CID	24083
RTECS number	OM4500000
UNII	ML30MJ2U7I^Y E2L2TK027P (monohydrate)^Y SK47B8698T (heptahydrate)^Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID6042105
InChI InChI=1S/Mg.H2O4S/c;1-5(2,3)4/h;(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+2;/p-2^Y Key: CSNNHWWHGAXBCP-UHFFFAOYSA-L^Y InChI=1/Mg.8H2O4S/c;1-5(2,3)4/h;(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+2;/p-2 Key: CSNNHWWHGAXBCP-NUQVWONBAQ
SMILES [Mg+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O
Properties
Chemical formula	MgSO4
Molar mass	120.366 g/mol (anhydrous) 138.38 g/mol (monohydrate) 174.41 g/mol (trihydrate) 210.44 g/mol (pentahydrate) 228.46 g/mol (hexahydrate) 246.47 g/mol (heptahydrate)
Appearance	white crystalline solid
Odor	odorless
Density	2.66 g/cm^3 (anhydrous) 2.445 g/cm^3 (monohydrate) 1.68 g/cm^3 (heptahydrate) 1.512 g/cm^3 (undecahydrate)
Melting point	anhydrous decomposes at 1,124 °C monohydrate decomposes at 200 °C heptahydrate decomposes at 150 °C undecahydrate decomposes at 2 °C
Solubility in water	anhydrous 26.9 g/(100 mL) (0 °C) 35.1 g/(100 mL) (20 °C) 50.2 g/(100 mL) (100 °C) heptahydrate 113 g/(100 mL) (20 °C)
Solubility product (Ksp)	738 (502 g/L)
Solubility	1.16 g/(100 mL) (18 °C, ether) slightly soluble in alcohol, glycerol insoluble in acetone
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	−50·10^−6 cm^3/mol
Refractive index (nD)	1.523 (monohydrate) 1.433 (heptahydrate)
Structure
Crystal structure	monoclinic (hydrate)
Pharmacology
ATC code	A06AD04 (WHO) A12CC02 (WHO) B05XA05 (WHO) D11AX05 (WHO) V04CC02 (WHO)
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	1 0 0
Related compounds
Other cations	Beryllium sulfate Calcium sulfate Strontium sulfate Barium sulfate Iron(II) sulfate Copper(II) sulfate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is ^YN ?) Infobox references

Magnesium sulfate is usually encountered in the form of a hydrate MgSO₄·nH₂O, for various values of n between 1 and 11. The most common is the heptahydrate MgSO₄·7H₂O,^[1] known as Epsom salt, which is a household chemical with many traditional uses, including bath salts.^[2]

The main use of magnesium sulfate is in agriculture, to correct soils deficient in magnesium (an essential plant nutrient because of the role of magnesium in chlorophyll and photosynthesis). The monohydrate is favored for this use; by the mid 1970s, its production was 2.3 million tons per year.^[3] The anhydrous form and several hydrates occur in nature as minerals, and the salt is a significant component of the water from some springs.

Hydrates

Magnesium sulfate can crystallize as several hydrates, including:

• Anhydrous, MgSO₄; unstable in nature, hydrates to form epsomite.^[4]
• Monohydrate, MgSO₄·H₂O; kieserite, monoclinic.^[5]
• Monohydrate, MgSO₄·H₂O; triclinic.^[6]
• MgSO₄·1.25H₂O or 4MgSO₄·5H₂O.^[7]
• Dihydrate, MgSO₄·2H₂O; orthorhombic.
• MgSO₄·2.5H₂O or 2MgSO₄·5H₂O.^[7]
• Trihydrate, MgSO₄·3H₂O.^[7]
• Tetrahydrate, MgSO₄·4H₂O; starkeyite, monoclinic.^[8]
• Pentahydrate, MgSO₄·5H₂O; pentahydrite, triclinic.^[5]
• Hexahydrate, MgSO₄·6H₂O; hexahydrite, monoclinic.
• Heptahydrate, MgSO₄·7H₂O ("Epsom salt"); epsomite, orthorhombic.^[5]
• Enneahydrate, MgSO₄·9H₂O, monoclinic.^[9]
• Decahydrate, MgSO₄·10H₂O.^[8]
• Undecahydrate, MgSO₄·11H₂O; meridianiite, triclinic.^[8]

As of 2017, the existence of the decahydrate apparently has not been confirmed.^[9]

All the hydrates lose water upon heating. Above 320 °C, only the anhydrous form is stable. It decomposes without melting at 1124 °C into magnesium oxide (MgO) and sulfur trioxide (SO₃).

Heptahydrate

Main articles: Epsomite and Magnesium sulfate (medical use)

The heptahydrate takes its common name "Epsom salt" from a bitter saline spring in Epsom in Surrey, England, where the salt was produced from the springs that arise where the porous chalk of the North Downs meets the impervious London clay.

The heptahydrate readily loses one equivalent of water to form the hexahydrate.

It is a natural source of both magnesium and sulphur. Epsom salts are commonly used in bath salts, exfoliants, muscle relaxers and pain relievers. However, these are different from Epsom salts that are used for gardening, as they contain aromas and perfumes not suitable for plants.^[10]

Monohydrate

Main article: Kieserite

Magnesium sulfate monohydrate, or kieserite, can be prepared by heating the heptahydrate to 120 °C.^[11] Further heating to 250 °C gives anhydrous magnesium sulfate.^[11] Kieserite exhibits monoclinic symmetry at pressures lower than 2.7 GPa after which it transforms to phase of triclinic symmetry.^[6]

Undecahydrate

The undecahydrate MgSO₄·11H₂O, meridianiite, is stable at atmospheric pressure only below 2 °C. Above that temperature, it liquefies into a mix of solid heptahydrate and a saturated solution. It has a eutectic point with water at −3.9 °C and 17.3% (mass) of MgSO₄.^[7] Large crystals can be obtained from solutions of the proper concentration kept at 0 °C for a few days.^[7]

At pressures of about 0.9 GPa and at 240 K, meridianiite decomposes into a mixture of ice VI and the enneahydrate MgSO₄·9H₂O.^[9]

Enneahydrate

The enneahydrate MgSO₄·9H₂O was identified and characterized only recently, even though it seems easy to produce (by cooling a solution of MgSO₄ and sodium sulfate Na₂SO₄ in suitable proportions).

The structure is monoclinic, with unit-cell parameters at 250 K: a = 0.675 nm, b = 1.195 nm, c = 1.465 nm, β = 95.1°, V = 1.177 nm³ with Z = 4. The most probable space group is P21/c. Magnesium selenate also forms an enneahydrate MgSeO₄·9H₂O, but with a different crystal structure.^[9]

Natural occurrence

As Mg²⁺ and SO2−4 ions are respectively the second most abundant cation and anion present in seawater after Na⁺ and Cl⁻, magnesium sulfates are common minerals in geological environments. Their occurrence is mostly connected with supergene processes. Some of them are also important constituents of evaporitic potassium-magnesium (K-Mg) salts deposits.

Bright spots observed by the Dawn Spacecraft in Occator Crater on the dwarf planet Ceres are most consistent with reflected light from magnesium sulfate hexahydrate.^[12]

Almost all known mineralogical forms of MgSO₄ are hydrates. Epsomite is the natural analogue of "Epsom salt". Meridianiite, MgSO₄·11H₂O, has been observed on the surface of frozen lakes and is thought to also occur on Mars. Hexahydrite is the next lower hydrate. Three next lower hydrates – pentahydrite, starkeyite, and especially sanderite – are rare. Kieserite is a monohydrate and is common among evaporitic deposits. Anhydrous magnesium sulfate was reported from some burning coal dumps.

Preparation

Magnesium sulfate is usually obtained directly from dry lake beds and other natural sources. It can also be prepared by reacting magnesite (magnesium carbonate, MgCO₃) or magnesia (oxide, MgO) with sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄):

H₂SO₄ + MgCO₃ → MgSO₄ + H₂O + CO₂

Another possible method is to treat seawater or magnesium-containing industrial wastes so as to precipitate magnesium hydroxide and react the precipitate with sulfuric acid.

Also, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (epsomite, MgSO₄·7H₂O) is manufactured by dissolution of magnesium sulfate monohydrate (kieserite, MgSO₄·H₂O) in water and subsequent crystallization of the heptahydrate.

Physical properties

Magnesium sulfate relaxation is the primary mechanism that causes the absorption of sound in seawater at frequencies above 10 kHz^[13] (acoustic energy is converted to thermal energy). Lower frequencies are less absorbed by the salt, so that low frequency sound travels farther in the ocean. Boric acid and magnesium carbonate also contribute to absorption.^[14]

Uses

Medical

Main article: Magnesium sulfate (medical use)

Magnesium sulfate is used both externally (as Epsom salt) and internally.

The main external use is the formulation as bath salts, especially for foot baths to soothe sore feet. Such baths have been claimed to also soothe and hasten recovery from muscle pain, soreness, or injury.^[15] Potential health effects of magnesium sulfate are reflected in medical studies on the impact of magnesium on resistant depression^[16] and as an analgesic for migraine and chronic pain.^[17] Magnesium sulfate has been studied in the treatment of asthma,^[18] preeclampsia and eclampsia.^[19]

Magnesium sulfate is the usual component of the concentrated salt solution used in isolation tanks to increase its specific gravity to approximately 1.25–1.26. This high density allows an individual to float effortlessly on the surface of water in the closed tank, eliminating stimulation of as many of the external senses as possible.

In the UK, a medication containing magnesium sulfate and phenol, called "drawing paste", is useful for small boils or localized infections^[20] and removing splinters.^[21]

Internally, magnesium sulfate may be administered by oral, respiratory, or intravenous routes. Internal uses include replacement therapy for magnesium deficiency,^[22] treatment of acute and severe arrhythmias,^[23] as a bronchodilator in the treatment of asthma,^[24] preventing eclampsia^[25] and cerebral palsy,^[26][27] a tocolytic agent,^[28] and as an anticonvulsant.^[28]

It also may be used as laxative.^[29]

Agriculture

In agriculture, magnesium sulfate is used to increase magnesium or sulfur content in soil. It is most commonly applied to potted plants, or to magnesium-hungry crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, lemons, and roses. The advantage of magnesium sulfate over other magnesium soil amendments (such as dolomitic lime) is its high solubility, which also allows the option of foliar feeding. Solutions of magnesium sulfate are also nearly pH neutral, compared with the slightly alkaline salts of magnesium as found in limestone; therefore, the use of magnesium sulfate as a magnesium source for soil does not significantly change the soil pH.^[28] Contrary to the popular belief that magnesium sulfate is able to control pests and slugs, helps seeds germination, produce more flowers, improve nutrient uptake, and is environmentally friendly, it does none of the purported claims except for correcting magnesium deficiency in soils. Magnesium sulfate can even pollute water if used in excessive amounts.^[30]

Magnesium sulfate was historically used as a treatment for lead poisoning prior to the development of chelation therapy, as it was hoped that any lead ingested would be precipitated out by the magnesium sulfate and subsequently purged from the digestive system.^[31] This application saw particularly widespread use among veterinarians during the early-to-mid 20th century; Epsom salt was already available on many farms for agricultural use, and it was often prescribed in the treatment of farm animals that inadvertently ingested lead.^[32][33]

Food preparation

Magnesium sulfate is used as:

• Brewing salt in making beer^[34]
• Coagulant for making tofu^[35]
• Salt substitute
• An ingredient in bottled water to add minerals back and add taste^[36]

Chemistry

Anhydrous magnesium sulfate is commonly used as a desiccant in organic synthesis owing to its affinity for water and compatibility with most organic compounds. During work-up, an organic phase is treated with anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The hydrated solid is then removed by filtration, decantation, or by distillation (if the boiling point is low enough). Other inorganic sulfate salts such as sodium sulfate and calcium sulfate may be used in the same way.

Construction

Magnesium sulfate is used to prepare specific cements by the reaction between magnesium oxide and magnesium sulfate solution, which are of good binding ability and more resistance than Portland cement. This cement is mainly utilized in the production of lightweight insulation panels, although its poor water resistance limits its usage.

Magnesium (or sodium) sulfate is also used for testing aggregates for soundness in accordance with ASTM C88 standard, when there are no service records of the material exposed to actual weathering conditions. The test is accomplished by repeated immersion in saturated solutions followed by oven drying to dehydrate the salt precipitated in permeable pore spaces. The internal expansive force, derived from the rehydration of the salt upon re-immersion, simulates the expansion of water on freezing.

Magnesium sulfate is also used to test the resistance of concrete to external sulfate attack (ESA).

Aquaria

Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate is also used to maintain the magnesium concentration in marine aquaria which contain large amounts of stony corals, as it is slowly depleted in their calcification process. In a magnesium-deficient marine aquarium, calcium and alkalinity concentrations are very difficult to control because not enough magnesium is present to stabilize these ions in the saltwater and prevent their spontaneous precipitation into calcium carbonate.^[37]

Double salts

Double salts containing magnesium sulfate exist. There are several known as sodium magnesium sulfates and potassium magnesium sulfates. A mixed copper-magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (Mg,Cu)SO₄·7H₂O was found to occur in mine tailings and was given the mineral name alpersite.^[38]

See also

• Calcium sulfate
• Magnesium chloride

References

1. Connor, Nick (24 July 2023). "Magnesium Sulfate | Formula, Properties & Application". Material Properties. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
2. . The Wall Street Journal. 9 April 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
3. Industrial Inorganic Chemistry, Karl Heinz Büchel, Hans-Heinrich Moretto, Dietmar Werner, John Wiley & Sons, 2d edition, 2000, ISBN 978-3-527-61333-5
4. "Unnamed (Mg Sulphate): Mineral information, data and localities". Retrieved 11 February 2024.
5. Odochian, Lucia (1995). . Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. 45 (6): 1437–1448. doi:10.1007/BF02547437. S2CID 97855885. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
6. Meusburger, Johannes (15 January 2020). "Polymorphism of Mg-sulfate monohydrate kieserite under pressure and its occurrence on giant icy jovian satellites". Icarus. 336: 113459. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2019.113459. S2CID 209977442.
7. A. Dominic Fortes, Frank Browning, and Ian G. Wood (2012): "Cation substitution in synthetic meridianiite (MgSO₄·11H₂O) I: X-ray powder diffraction analysis of quenched polycrystalline aggregates". Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, volume 39, issue, pages 419–441. doi:10.1007/s00269-012-0497-9
8. R. C. Peterson, W. Nelson, B. Madu, and H. F. Shurvell (2007): "Meridianiite: A new mineral species observed on Earth and predicted to exist on Mars". American Mineralogist, volume 92, issue 10, pages 1756–1759. doi:10.2138/am.2007.2668
9. A. Dominic Fortes, Kevin S. Knight, and Ian G. Wood (2017): "Structure, thermal expansion and incompressibility of MgSO₄·9H₂O, its relationship to meridianiite (MgSO₄·11H₂O) and possible natural occurrences". Acta Crystallographica Section B: Structureal Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials, volume 73, part 1, pages 47-64. doi:10.1107/S2052520616018266
10. "What Is Epsom Salt And Why Is It So Important For My Cannabis Garden?". Herbies. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
11. PubChem. "Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) : 664". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
12. M. C. De Sanctis; E. Ammannito; A. Raponi; S. Marchi; T. B. McCord; H. Y. McSween; F. Capaccioni; M. T. Capria; F. G. Carrozzo; M. Ciarniello; A. Longobardo; F. Tosi; S. Fonte; M. Formisano; A. Frigeri; M. Giardino; G. Magni; E. Palomba; D. Turrini; F. Zambon; J.-P. Combe; W. Feldman; R. Jaumann; L. A. McFadden; C. M. Pieters (2015). "Ammoniated phyllosilicates with a likely outer Solar System origin on (1) Ceres" (PDF). Nature. 528 (7581): 241–244. Bibcode:2015Natur.528..241D. doi:10.1038/nature16172. PMID 26659184. S2CID 1687271.
13. "Underlying physics and mechanisms for the absorption of sound in seawater". Resource.npl.co.uk. from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
14. Michael A. Ainslie, Principles of Sonar Performance Modeling, p.18
15. Ingraham, Paul. "Does Epsom Salt Work? The science of Epsom salt bathing for recovery from muscle pain, soreness, or injury". Pain Science. from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
16. Eby, George A.; Eby, Karen L. (April 2010). "Magnesium for treatment-resistant depression: a review and hypothesis". Medical Hypotheses. 74 (4): 649–660. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.051. ISSN 1532-2777. PMID 19944540.
17. ^{[citation needed]}
18. "Magnesium sulfate asthma – Search Results". PubMed. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
19. "Magnesium sulfate eclampsia – Search Results". PubMed. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
20. "Boots Magnesium Sulfate Paste B.P. - Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) - (eMC)". www.medicines.org.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
21. Ryan. "Removing a splinter with Magnesium Sulphate". TipKing. from the original on 27 October 2022.
22. "Pharmaceutical Information – Magnesium Sulfate". RxMed. from the original on 3 April 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
23. "CPR and First Aid: Antiarrhythmic Drugs During and Immediately After Cardiac Arrest (section)". American Heart Association. Retrieved 29 August 2016. Previous ACLS guidelines addressed the use of magnesium in cardiac arrest with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (ie, torsades de pointes) or suspected hypomagnesemia, and this has not been reevaluated in the 2015 Guidelines Update. These previous guidelines recommended defibrillation for termination of polymorphic VT (ie, torsades de pointes), followed by consideration of intravenous magnesium sulfate when secondary to a long QT interval.
24. Blitz M, Blitz S, Hughes R, Diner B, Beasley R, Knopp J, Rowe BH (2005). "Aerosolized magnesium sulfate for acute asthma: a systematic review". Chest. 128 (1): 337–344. doi:10.1378/chest.128.1.337. PMID 16002955..
25. Duley, L; Gülmezoglu, AM; Henderson-Smart, DJ; Chou, D (10 November 2010). "Magnesium sulphate and other anticonvulsants for women with pre-eclampsia". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2010 (11): CD000025. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000025.pub2. PMC 7061250. PMID 21069663.
26. Edwards, Hannah B; Redaniel, Maria Theresa; Sillero-Rejon, Carlos; Margelyte, Ruta; Peters, Tim J; Tilling, Kate; Hollingworth, William; McLeod, Hugh; Craggs, Pippa; Hill, Elizabeth; Redwood, Sabi; Donovan, Jenny; Treloar, Emma; Wetz, Ellie; Swinscoe, Natasha (8 January 2023). "National PReCePT Programme: a before-and-after evaluation of the implementation of a national quality improvement programme to increase the uptake of magnesium sulfate in preterm deliveries". Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition. 108 (4): fetalneonatal–2022–324579. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2022-324579. hdl:1983/5a362df9-c182-4bae-96c5-60c76b6219a1. ISSN 1359-2998. PMC 10314002. PMID 36617442.
27. "NHS quality improvement programme reduces the risk of cerebral palsy in newborns". NIHR Evidence. 30 June 2023. doi:10.3310/nihrevidence_58371.
28. "Pubchem: Magnesium Sulfate". PubChem. from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
29. Izzo, A. A.; Gaginella, T. S.; Capasso, F. (June 1996). "The osmotic and intrinsic mechanisms of the pharmacological laxative action of oral high doses of magnesium sulphate. Importance of the release of digestive polypeptides and nitric oxide". Magnesium Research. 9 (2): 133–138. ISSN 0953-1424. PMID 8878010.
30. "Horticulture myths". University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science. from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
31. Wood, H. C. (1877). A Treatise on Therapeutics, Comprising Materia Medica and Toxicology, with Especial Reference to the Application of the Physiological Action of Drugs to Clinical Medicine. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. p. 34. The treatment of acute lead-poisoning consists in the evacuation of the stomach, if necessary, the exhibition of the sulphate of sodium or of magnesium, and the meeting of the indications as they arrive. The Epsom and Glauber's salts act as chemical antidotes, by precipitating the insoluble sulphate of lead, and also, if in excess, empty the bowel of the compound formed.
32. Barker, C. A. V. (January 1945). "Experience with Lead Poisoning". Canadian Journal of Comparative Medicine and Veterinary Science. 9 (1): 6–8. PMC 1660962. PMID 17648099. Udall (1) suggests sodium citrate as of some value together with Epsom salts which will bring about a precipitation of the lead in the form of an insoluble compound. Nelson (3) reported a case that survived following the use of a 20% magnesium sulphate solution intravenously, subcutaneously and orally. McIntosh (5) has suggested that purgative doses of Epsom salts may be effective in combining with the lead and overcoming the toxicity.
33. Herriot, James (1972). All Creatures Great and Small. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 157. ISBN 0-312-08498-6. The specific antidotes to metal poisoning had not been discovered and the only thing which sometimes did a bit of good was magnesium sulphate which caused the precipitation of insoluble lead sulphate. The homely term for magnesium sulphate is, of course, epsom salts.
34. . National Home Brew. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
35. US 6042851, Matsuura, Masaru; Sasaki, Masaoki & Sasakib, Jun et al., "Process for producing packed tofu", published 2000-03-28 
36. "What's Really in Bottled Water?". 17 January 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
37. "Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium". Reefkeeping. 2006. from the original on 22 March 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
38. Peterson, Ronald C.; Hammarstrom, Jane M.; Seal, II, Robert R (February 2006). "Alpersite (Mg,Cu)SO₄·7H₂O, a new mineral of the melanterite group, and cuprian pentahydrite: Their occurrence within mine waste". American Mineralogist. 91 (2–3): 261–269. doi:10.2138/am.2006.1911. S2CID 56431885.

External links

• International Chemical Safety Cards—Magnesium Sulfate