magnesium: Compounds

Magnesium forms many compounds. The oxide, hydroxide, chloride, carbonate, and sulfate are commercially important. They are used in ceramics, cosmetics, fertilizers, insulation, leather tanning, and textile processing. Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, MgSO₄·7H₂O), milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)₂), and citrate of magnesia are used in medicine. Magnesium reacts with organic halides to form the Grignard reagents of organic chemistry.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Uses
• Commercial Preparation
• Natural Occurrence
• Compounds
• Properties

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