Magnesium sulfate
IUPAC name	Magnesium sulfate (anhydrous); Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate
Other names	Epsom salts; bitter salts
Identifiers
CAS number	7487-88-9
Properties
Molecular formula	MgSO4 (anhydrous); MgSO4·7H2O ImageMetadata File history File links Magnesium_sulfate_anhydrous. ... IUPAC nomenclature is a system of naming chemical compounds and of describing the science of chemistry in general. ... CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for chemical compounds, polymers, biological sequences, mixtures and alloys. ... A chemical formula is a concise way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound. ...
Molar mass	120.415 g
Appearance	white crystalline solid
Density	2.66g/mL, solid
Melting point	1124°C decomp. Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a chemical element or chemical compound. ... For other uses, see Density (disambiguation). ... The melting point of a crystalline solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to liquid. ...
Solubility in water	25.5 g/100 ml (20 °C)
Structure
Crystal structure	monoclinic (hydrate)
Related Compounds
Other cations	Calcium sulfate; Aluminium sulfate
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Magnesium sulfate (or sulphate) is a chemical compound containing magnesium and sulfate, with the formula MgSO₄. It is often encountered as the heptahydrate, MgSO₄·7H₂O, commonly called Epsom salts. Anhydrous magnesium sulfate is used as a drying agent. Since the anhydrous form is deliquescent and therefore harder to weigh accurately, the hydrate is often preferred when preparing solutions, for example in medical preparations. Epsom salts have traditionally been used as a component of bath salts. Solubility is a chemical property referring to the ability for a given substance, the solute, to dissolve in a solvent. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... Enargite crystals In mineralogy and crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms in a crystal. ... In crystallography, the monoclinic crystal system is one of the 7 lattice point groups. ... This article is about the electrically charged particle. ... Calcium sulphate is a common laboratory and industrial chemical. ... Aluminium sulfate is a widely used industrial chemical. ... The plimsoll symbol as used in shipping In chemistry, the standard state of a material is its state at 1 bar (100 kilopascals exactly). ... Look up chemical compound in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... General Name, symbol, number magnesium, Mg, 12 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, period, block 2, 3, s Appearance silvery white solid at room temp Standard atomic weight 24. ... The sulfate anion, SO42− The structure and bonding of the sulfate ion In inorganic chemistry, a sulfate (IUPAC-recommended spelling; also sulphate in British English) is a salt of sulfuric acid. ... As a general term, a substance is said to be anhydrous if it contains no water. ... Deliquescent materials are substances (mostly salts) which have a strong affinity for moisture and will absorb relatively large amount of water from the atmosphere if exposed to it, forming a liquid solution. ... Hydrate is a term which means different things in inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry. ... The name bath salts is applied to a range of soluble solid products designed to be added to a bath, either to improve cleaning, provide a medical improvement, or to improve the experience of bathing. ...

Origin

In 1618 a farmer at Epsom in England attempted to give his cows water, but they refused to drink it due to its sour/bitter taste.^{[citation needed]} However the farmer noticed that the water seemed to heal scratches and rashes.^{[citation needed]} The fame of Epsom salts then began to spread.^{[citation needed]}

Epsom salt was originally prepared by boiling down mineral waters at Epsom, England, and later prepared from sea water.^{[citation needed]} In modern times, these salts are obtained from certain minerals such as epsomite.^{[citation needed]} In many places, mineral water is often colloquially used to mean carbonated water (which is usually carbonated mineral water, as opposed to tap water). ... , See also Epsom, New Hampshire, and Epsom, New Zealand. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Sea water is water from a sea or ocean. ... Epsomite is a mineral. ...

Agricultural use

In agriculture and gardening, magnesium sulfate is used to correct magnesium deficiency in soil (magnesium is an essential element in the chlorophyll molecule). It is most commonly applied to potted plants, or to magnesium-hungry crops, such as potatoes, roses, tomatoes, and peppers. The advantage of magnesium sulfate over other magnesium soil amendments (such as dolomitic lime) is its high solubility. A gardener Gardening is the practice of growing flowering plants, vegetables, and fruits. ... Loess field in Germany Surface-water-gley developed in glacial till, Northern Ireland For the American hard rock band, see SOiL. For the System of a Down song, see Soil (song). ... Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. ... For other uses, see Potato (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Rose (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Tomato (disambiguation). ... A soil amendment is any of a class of materials which are used to adjust the soil for increased fertility. ... For other uses, see Dolomite (disambiguation). ... Solubility is a chemical property referring to the ability for a given substance, the solute, to dissolve in a solvent. ...

Medical use

Main article: Hypomagnesemia

Oral magnesium sulfate, or magnesium hydroxide, is commonly used as a saline laxative. Epsom salts are also available in a gel form for topical application in treating aches and pains. Hypomagnesemia is an electrolyte disturbance in which there is an abnormally low level of magnesium in the blood. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Milk of Magnesia. ... Saline may refer to: Salinity Saline (medicine) Saline, Michigan Saline, Scotland - a village in the burgh of Fife, Scotland. ... Laxatives (or purgatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements, most often taken to treat constipation. ...

Indications for its use are

• Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium concentrations in the blood)
• Magnesium Sulfate is the first-line antidysrhythmic agent for Torsades de pointes in cardiac arrest under the 2005 ECC guidelines.
• As a bronchodilator after beta-agonist and anticholinergic agents have been tried, e.g. in severe exacerbations of asthma.^[1] In fact, recent studies have revealed that magnesium sulfate can be nebulized to reduce the symptoms of acute asthma (Blitz et al 2005). In the UK, it is commonly administered via the intravenous route for the management of severe asthma attacks
• A 2004 research study by Rosemary Waring at the School of Biosciences, Birmingham University, UK has shown that both magnesium and sulphate are absorbed through the skin when bathing in 1% solution.^[2]
• Magnesium sulfate is used to treat pre-eclampsia in laboring women
• Magnesium sulfate can also delay labor in the case of premature labor, to delay Preterm birth
• Solutions of sulfate salts such as Epsom salts may be given as first aid for barium poisoning
• Magnesium sulfate paste has been used as an agent for drawing (dehydrating) boils and carbuncles.

Hypomagnesemia is an electrolyte disturbance in which there is an abnormally low level of magnesium in the blood. ... Torsades de pointes or torsades is a French term that literally means twisting of the points. It refers to a specific variety of ventricular tachycardia and its name is derived from a maneuver in ballet. ... A bronchodilator is a medication intended to improve bronchial airflow. ... An anticholinergic agent is a member of a class of pharmaceutical compounds which serve to reduce the effects mediated by acetylcholine in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. ... An intravenous drip in a hospital Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the administration of liquid substances directly into a vein. ... Rosemary Waring, a reader in human toxicology at the School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, was the first researcher to produce scientific evidence suggestive of abnormal sulphur metabolism affecting people with autistic spectrum disorders. ... The University of Birmingham is the oldest of three universities in the English city of Birmingham. ... Pre-eclampsia (US: preeclampsia) is a medical condition where hypertension arises in pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension) in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine. ... Premature birth (also known as a preterm birth) is the birth of a baby before the standard period of pregnancy is completed. ... Boil or furuncle is a skin disease caused by the inflammation of hair follicles, thus resulting in the localized accumulation of pus and dead tissues. ... A carbuncle is an abscess larger than a boil, usually with one or more openings draining pus onto the skin. ...

Use in organic chemistry

Anhydrous magnesium sulfate is commonly used as a desiccant in organic synthesis due to its affinity for water. During workup, an organic phase is saturated with magnesium sulfate until it no longer forms clumps. The hydrated solid is then removed with filtration or decantation. As a general term, a substance is said to be anhydrous if it contains no water. ... A dessicant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains a state of dryness (desiccation) in its local vicinity in a moderately-well sealed container. ... Workup may refer to: Workup (chemistry) - Additional reactions carried out after the main chemical reaction to obtain the desired product. ...

A number of other inorganic sulfate salts, sodium sulfate and calcium sulfate for example, may also be used in the same way. Sodium sulfate is an important compound of sodium. ... Calcium sulphate is a common laboratory and industrial chemical. ...

Other uses

Magnesium sulfate is used as in bath salts, particularly in flotation therapy where high concentrations raise the bath water's specific gravity, effectively making the body more buoyant. This property is also used to restore some Lava lamps damaged by being shaken by exchanging the water and adding drops of a concentrated solution until sustainable buoyancy is reached. Traditionally, it is also used to prepare foot baths, intended to soothe sore feet. The reason for the inclusion of the salt is partially cosmetic: the increase in ionic strength prevents some of the temporary skin wrinkling ("pruning") which is caused by prolonged immersion of extremities in pure water. However, magnesium sulfate can also be absorbed into the skin, reducing inflammation. It is also recommended for dropsy treatment for fish.^[3] It may also be used as a coagulant for making tofu. Magnesium sulfate is listed as an ingredient in Dasani brand bottled water, presumably to enhance its mouth feel. The name bath salts is applied to a range of soluble solid products designed to be added to a bath, either to improve cleaning, provide a medical improvement, or to improve the experience of bathing. ... // An isolation tank is a lightless, soundproof tank in which subjects float in salty water at skin temperature. ... Relative density (also known as specific gravity) is a measure of the density of a material. ... A lava lamp is a novelty item typically used for decoration rather than illumination. ... // Dropsy is a common disease among fresh-water aquarium fish. ... For other uses, see Tofu (disambiguation). ... Dasani (pronounced ) is a popular brand of bottled water from the Coca-Cola company, launched in 1999, after the success of Aquafina (produced by Coca-Cola-rival PepsiCo). ...

References

1. ^ Blitz M, Blitz S, Hughes R, Diner B, Beasley R, Knopp J, Rowe BH. Aerosolized magnesium sulfate for acute asthma: a systematic review. Chest 2005;128:337-44. PMID 16002955.
2. ^ Rosemary Waring Absorption of magnesium sulphate through the skin (republished by the Epsom Salt Council), 2004
3. ^ Dropsy. www.healthybetta.com (2004). Retrieved on 2007-05-20.

Systematic reviews are named as the highest level of medical evidence, by evidence based medicine professionals. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• MSDS for magnesium sulfate
• Epsom Salt Industry Council