Nomenclature
CAS number: 7487-88-9
Sulfuric acid magnesium salt (1:1).
MgO
4S; mol wt 120.37.
Mg 20.19%, O 53.17%, S 26.64%.
MgSO
4.
Description and references
Monohydrate occurs in nature as the mineral kieserite. Review: Gmelins,
Magnesium (8th ed) 27, 210-211, 223-226 (1939).
Review of clinical experience: R. Swain, B. Kaplan-Machlis, South. Med. J. 92, 1040-1047 (1999);
of toxicology: J. W. Van Hook, Crit. Care
Clin. 7, 215-223 (1991); R. B. Birrer et al., J. Emerg. Med. 22, 185-188 (2002). Clinical trial in prevention of eclamptic
convulsions: L. Duley et al., Lancet 359, 1877 (2002).
Derivative
Trihydrate.
Nomenclature
CAS number: 15320-30-6
MgO
4S.3H
2O; mol wt 174.41.
Mg 13.94%, O 64.21%, S 18.38%, H 3.47%.
Description and references
Prepn: Bennett, US 3297413 (1967 to Dow).
Properties
Odorless crystals.Derivative
Heptahydrate.
Nomenclature
CAS number: 10034-99-8
Bitter salts; epsom salts; Mg 5-Sulfat (Artesan).
MgO
4S.7H
2O; mol wt 246.47.
Mg 9.86%, O 71.41%, S 13.01%, H 5.73%.
Description and references
Occurs in nature as the mineral epsomite.
Properties
Efflorescent crystals or powder; bitter, saline,
cooling taste. d 1.67. Soly in water (g/100 ml): at 20° = 71; at 40° = 91. Slightly
sol in alcohol. Its aq soln is neutral. pH 6-7. On exposure to
dry air at ordinary temp it loses ≈1H2O; at 70-80° loses
4H2O; at 100° loses 5H2O; at 120° loses 6H2O, rapidly reabsorbing water when exposed to moist air; loses
the last mol of water at ≈250°.Derivative
Dried magnesium sulfate.
Description and references
Prepd by heating the heptahydrate until ≈25%
of its weight is lost. Used in Morison's paste.
Properties
Keep well closed.Caution
Parenteral use or use in presence
of renal insufficiency may lead to magnesium intoxication. See: M. J. Ellenhorn et al., Ellenhorn's
Medical Toxicology: Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Poisoning (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 2nd ed., 1997) pp 1013-1014.
Potential symptoms of overexposure are pseudocoma, hyporeflexia,
muscle weakness, ataxia, confusion, nausea, vomiting, flushing, bradycardia,
hypotension, widened QRS, AV block and respiratory arrest (Swain,
Kaplan-Machlis).Use
Weighting cotton and silk; increasing the bleaching
action of chlorinated lime; manuf mother-of-pearl and frosted papers;
fire-proofing fabrics; dyeing and printing calicos; in fertilizers;
explosives, matches; mineral water; tanning leather.
Therapeutic Category
Anticonvulsant; cathartic; magnesium replenisher.
Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)
Anticonvulsant; cathartic; magnesium
replenisher.
Keywords
Anticonvulsant; Laxative/Cathartic; Replenishers/Supplements; Magnesium