Magnesium hydroxide
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Description
A white amorphous powder that occurs in nature as the mineral Brucite. An aqueous slurry of magnesium hydroxide produces a solution with a pH of 10. Magnesium hydroxide is used as an antacid and laxative. It is also used in the manufacture of paper pulp.
Synonyms and Related Terms
magnesium hydrate; milk of magnesia; magnesia magma; Magnesiumhydroxid (Deut.); hidróxido de magnesio (Esp.)
Risks
- Ingestion produces a laxative effect.
- Contact may cause irritation.
- Noncombustible.
- Fisher Scientific: MSDS
Physical and Chemical Properties
Soluble in dilute acids and ammonium salt solutions. Insoluble in water.
| Composition | Mg(OH)2 |
|---|---|
| CAS | 1309-42-8 |
| Melting Point | 350 C (dec) |
| Density | 2.36 g/ml |
| Molecular Weight | mol. wt. = 58.34 |
Resources and Citations
- Matt Roberts, Don Etherington, Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: a Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1982
- The Merck Index, Susan Budavari (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Whitehouse Station, NJ, 12th Edition, 1996 Comment: entry 5706
- Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993