Nomenclature
CAS number: 7786-30-3
Magnesium chloride (MgCl
2); Magnogene.
Cl
2Mg; mol wt 95.21.
Cl 74.47%, Mg 25.53%.
MgCl
2.
Description and references
Prepd from magnesium ammonium chloride hexahydrate
in the presence of HCl: Bryce-Smith, Inorg.
Synth. 6, 9 (1960). Toxicity study: H. F.
Smyth et al., Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc.
J. 30, 470 (1969).
Properties
Soft, highly deliquescent leaflets. mp 712° (rapid heating). d 2.41, also reported as d 2.325. Slow heating
releases chlorine at 300°. Can be distilled in a stream of hydrogen.
Attacks fused silica when melted. Sol in water, with the evolution
of much heat, giving a clear soln. Easily forms alcoholates and etherates.Derivative
Hexahydrate.
Nomenclature
CAS number: 7791-18-6
Cl
2Mg.6H
2O; mol wt 203.30.
Cl 34.88%, Mg 11.96%, H 5.95%, O 47.22%.
Properties
Deliquescent crystals. d 1.56. At 100° loses 2H2O (17.7%);
at 110° begins to lose some HCl. By strong ignition is converted
into oxychloride. mp, when rapidly heated, ≈118° with decompn. One gram dissolves in
0.6 ml water, 0.3 ml boiling water, 2 ml alcohol. Its aq soln is
neutral. Keep well closed. LD50 orally in rats:
8.1 g/kg (Smyth).Use
Fireproofing wood; in disinfectants; various magnesia
cements; fire extinguishers; dressing cotton fabrics; in floor-sweeping
compds; carbonizing wool; manuf parchment paper or artificial leather;
as addition to casein glue. As a reagent in analytical chemistry
for adjustment of ion strength.
Therapeutic Category
Cathartic.
Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)
Has been used in bovine hypomagnesemia.
Keywords
Laxative/Cathartic