Basic info
Molecular Formula: MgSO4
Molar Mass: 120.366 g/mol (anhydrous)
246.47 g/mol (heptahydrate)
Density in Natural State: 1.68 g/cm^3
Melting Point: 1124 °C (anhydrous)
150 °C (heptahydrate)
Boiling Point: N/A
% Composition by Mass: O- 53.2%
Mg- 20.2%
S- 26.6%
% Composition by Number: O- 66.6%
Mg- 16.7%
S- 16.7%
Type of Bonding: Magnesium and Sulfate form an ionic bond.
- Chemical Properties:
- Hydrates: Magnesium Sulfate is found in various types of hydrates. other than
heptahydrate, Magnesium Sulfate also forms hexahydrate, pentahydrate, starkeyite,
and sanderite, but these other forms are rare in occurance. Kieserite is the
monohydrate form, which is obtained via evaporitic deposits of seawater. - pH: Magnesium sulfate solution is neither acidic nor basic. On
a pH scale, its value is around 6.0. - On heating: When heated at 250ºC, heptahydrate loses water to form
anhydrous salt. On further heating, the salt is partially broken down to
magnesium oxide. - Reaction with Water: When dissolved in water, magnesium sulfate
splits into ions of magnesium and sulfate