Magnesium chloride

Absorption

Oral: Inversely proportional to amount ingested; 40% to 60% under controlled dietary conditions; 15% to 36% at higher doses

Toxicity

Mouse LD50 775mg/kg (intraperitoneal) Mouse LD50 : 7600mg/kg (oral) Rat LD 50 : 8100mg/kg (oral) Rat LD50 176mg/kg (intravenous) Severe toxicity occurs most often after intravenous infusions. It can also occur after chronic excessive oral doses, often in patients with renal insufficiency. Early manifestations are lethargy, hyporeflexia, followed by weakness, paralysis, hypotension, ECG changes (prolonged PR and QRS intervals), CNS depression, seizures, and respiratory depression. In overdose, magnesium impairs neuromuscular transmission, manifested as weakness and hyporeflexia.

Chemical properties

Magnesium is an essential nutrient for plants and animals and is a natural constituent of fruits, vegetables, grain, meats and sea-foods. It is the fourth most abundant cation in the human body and the second most plentiful intracellularly. The average 60-kg human adult body contains about 24 g magnesium of which about one-half resides in bone. Although plasma levels vary between 1.7 and 3.0 mg per dl, very little is contained in extracellular fluid. Magnesium is essential for the production and transfer of energy, for protein, fat, and nucleic acid synthesis, for contractility in muscle and excitability in nerve, and for the activity of numerous enzyme systems.

Occurrence

MgCl2, is one of the primary constituents of seawater and occurs in most natural brines and salt deposits formed from the evaporation of seawater.

The Uses of Magnesium chloride

Magnesium Chloride is a source of magnesium, a color-retention agent, and firming agent. it exists as colorless flakes or crystals and is very soluble in water.

The Uses of Magnesium chloride

An excellent magnesium ion source for synthesis and biology research

The Uses of Magnesium chloride

Magnesium chloride is used for a variety of other applications besides the production of Mg metal. It is used in the manufacture of textiles, paper, fireproofing agents, cements and refrigeration brine. It has also been used in dust and erosion control. Mixed with hydrated magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride forms a hard material called “Sorel-cement”. The cement is a mixture of MgO (burnt magnesia) with MgCl2 with the approximate chemical formula Mg4Cl2(OH)6(H2O)8, corresponding to a weight ratio of 2.5–3.5 parts MgO to one part MgCl2. This usage of magnesium chloride is unmatched by any other compound. MgCl2 was one of the earlier antiseptics, first used for that purpose by Dr Pierre Delbert in 1915. One veterinary study in 1989 indicated some effectiveness against tumors when used as a feed additive.
A commercial form of liquid MgCl2 called DustGard Liquid is used to control dust on unpaved roads, construction sites and similar surfaces. Because it is produced from naturally occurring minerals, it improves air quality and visibility with minimal environmental impact. It also decreases vehicle maintenance costs, prevents soil erosion and reduces the need for blading, watering and gravel replacement.
Magnesium chloride is also used in several medical and topical (skin-related) applications. It has been used in pills as supplemental sources of magnesium, where it serves as a soluble compound which is not as laxative as MgSO4, and more bio-available than Mg(OH)2 and MgO, since it does not require stomach acid to produce soluble Mg²⁺ ion. It can also be used as an effective anesthetic for cephalopods, some species of crustaceans, and several species of bivalves, including oysters.
Magnesium chloride is an important coagulant used in the preparation of “tofu” from soy milk. In Japan, it is sold as “Nigari”, (derived from the Japanese word for “bitter"). It is a white powder produced from seawater after the sodium chloride has been removed, and the water evaporated. In China, it is called "Lushui”,Nigari or Lushui and consists mostly of magnesium chloride, with some MgSO4 and other trace elements. It is also an ingredient in baby formula milk.
Magnesium chloride has shown promise as a storage material for hydrogen gas. Ammonia can be effectively adsorbed onto solid magnesium chloride, forming Mg(NH3)6Cl2. When the ammonia is released by mild heat, and is then passed through a catalyst, hydrogen gas is retrieved.

Background

Magnesium chloride salts are highly soluble in water and the hydrated form of magnesium chloride can be extracted from brine or sea water.

Indications

Magnesium chloride is used in several medical and topical (skin related) applications. Magnesium chloride usp, anhydrous uses as electrolyte replenisher, pharmaceutic necessity for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis fluids.

What are the applications of Application

Magnesium chloride is an excellent magnesium ion source for synthesis and biology research

Definition

ChEBI: Magnesium chloride is a magnesium salt comprising of two chlorine atoms bound to a magnesium atom.

Definition

magnesium chloride: A white solid compound, MgCl₂. The anhydrous salt (hexagonal; r.d. 2.32; m.p.714°C; b.p. 1412°C) can be prepared by the direct combination of dry chlorine with magnesium:
Mg(s) + Cl₂(g) → MgCl₂(s)
The compound also occurs naturally as a constituent of carnallite(KCl.MgCl₂). It is a deliquescent compound that commonly forms the hexahydrate, MgCl₂.6H₂O (monoclinic;r.d. 1.57). When heated, this hydrolyses to give magnesium oxide and hydrogen chloride gas. The fused chloride is electrolysed to produce magnesium and it is also used for fireproofing wood, in magnesia cements and artificial leather, and as a laxative.

Preparation

In the “Dow Process” (which is the electrolytic method of extracting bromine from brine), magnesium chloride is regenerated from magnesium hydroxide by hydrochloric acid:
Mg(OH)2(s)＋2HCl→MgCl2(aq)＋2H2O
It can also be prepared from MgCO3 by a similar reaction. Magnesium chloride is ionic and so will undergo electrolysis when it is molten. Electricity is carried by the movement of the ions within the melt and their discharge at the electrodes. However, solid magnesium chloride is a nonconductor of electricity because the ions are immobile.

General Description

Magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) is an inorganic compound that can be prepared by reacting magnesium oxide and ammonium chloride in the presence of alumina as a covering agent.

Hazard

Toxic by ingestion.

Flammability and Explosibility

Non flammable

Pharmacokinetics

Magnesium is important as a cofactor in many enzymatic reactions in the body involving protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism (at least 300 enzymatic reactions require magnesium). Actions on lipoprotein lipase have been found to be important in reducing serum cholesterol and on sodium/potassium ATPase in promoting polarization (eg, neuromuscular functioning).

Metabolism

Magnesium levels are efficiently regulated by the kidneys. Magnesium also undergoes efficient enterohepatic circulation