Jack Perisich
Per. 1
Chemistry Honors Project
Per. 1
Chemistry Honors Project
Magnesium sulfate, more commonly known as Epsom salts, has many uses in society. One way it can be formed is when magnesium reacts with sulfuric acid to create both the magnesium sulfate and hydrogen gas in a double replacement reaction. Magnesium sulfate is found naturally and has been found in other areas of the solar system other than earth. We mainly use it for medical purposes, although it has many other properties.
Magnesium Sulfate
Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is a chemical compound that contains one atom of magnesium bonded with one sulfate ion. Magnesium sulfate is found most commonly in the form of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (MgSO4 • 7H2O), making it highly soluble in water. When bonded with water in this way, magnesium sulfate is commonly known as Epsom salts.
Magnesium sulfate takes the form of a white powder. It is a type of inorganic salt that takes a solid form at room temperature. It can be gathered from natural sources in a fairly pure form. Magnesium sulfate is most commonly found in the ocean, where it is the second most prominent salt next to sodium chloride. Magnesium sulfate has the unusual property of turning sound energy into thermal energy. In fact, it is responsible for the majority of sound absorption in salt water. However, magnesium sulfate more readily absorbs higher sound frequencies, which is why lower frequency sounds can travel farther in salt water. Although magnesium sulfate is most commonly found as a heptahydrate, it can also take the form of meridianiite (MgSO4 • 11H2O) which is a clear, almost colorless mineral that exist on Earth. It is also believed that this form of magnesium sulfate can be found on the planet Mars. Furthermore, samples of Kieserite (MgSO4 • H2O), have also been found on Mars. This is used as evidence for the existence of water on Mars.
Magnesium sulfate has many uses in today’s world. One, is that is used in the production of copper sulfate. Copper sulfate is created when copper (II) reacts with magnesium sulfate and water to create copper sulfate, hydrogen, and magnesium hydroxide (Cu + MgSO4 + 2H2O → H2 + CuSO4 + Mg(OH)2 ). Magnesium sulfate is mostly used for medicinal purposes however. It is found that people with diabetes have lower levels of magnesium in their bodies. Because of the high solubility of magnesium sulfate, it is often used to administer magnesium into the body. This allows diabetics to take small amount of magnesium sulfate to counteract some of the effects of diabetes. Another use for magnesium sulfate is found in bath salts. Magnesium sulfate was first discovered in a spring at Epsom. People who bathed in these waters often reported feeling refreshed and much more relaxed. It was discovered that these waters had high levels of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, which led to the more common name, Epsom salts. The property of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate to relax the body is what allows it to be used as a key component in bath salts. Coming in direct contact with pure magnesium sulfate can cause irritation, so it is advised to take caution when handling the compound. Inhalation and ingestion can have serious effects on the respiratory and digestive systems respectively. Magnesium sulfate is often administered to prevent seizures and convulsions during pregnancy. These convulsions are caused by the swelling of tissues in the arms and legs. Magnesium sulfate is used to reduce the amount of swelling in these tissues and therefore, help reduce or prevent future convulsions. Magnesium sulfate is also commonly used as a laxative. Magnesium sulfate is used to treat various metal poisonings, notably barium, because it helps to get rid of these types of metals by speeding up the digestive track. When administered, magnesium sulfate has effects on the body almost immediately and these effects will last for another three to four hours. However, since the removal of magnesium sulfate is entirely focused in the kidney, patients with kidney problems should avoid digesting any forms of magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sulfate is used agriculture as well. Magnesium sulfate is a key ingredient in many pesticides.
These principles of magnesium sulfate make it a very popular compound for many reasons. Magnesium sulfate has many different properties in the areas of medicine and agriculture that cannot be replaced by other substances. These medicinal, pharmaceutical, and agricultural uses are what make magnesium sulfate a popular and necessary compound in today’s society.
Magnesium sulfate takes the form of a white powder. It is a type of inorganic salt that takes a solid form at room temperature. It can be gathered from natural sources in a fairly pure form. Magnesium sulfate is most commonly found in the ocean, where it is the second most prominent salt next to sodium chloride. Magnesium sulfate has the unusual property of turning sound energy into thermal energy. In fact, it is responsible for the majority of sound absorption in salt water. However, magnesium sulfate more readily absorbs higher sound frequencies, which is why lower frequency sounds can travel farther in salt water. Although magnesium sulfate is most commonly found as a heptahydrate, it can also take the form of meridianiite (MgSO4 • 11H2O) which is a clear, almost colorless mineral that exist on Earth. It is also believed that this form of magnesium sulfate can be found on the planet Mars. Furthermore, samples of Kieserite (MgSO4 • H2O), have also been found on Mars. This is used as evidence for the existence of water on Mars.
Magnesium sulfate has many uses in today’s world. One, is that is used in the production of copper sulfate. Copper sulfate is created when copper (II) reacts with magnesium sulfate and water to create copper sulfate, hydrogen, and magnesium hydroxide (Cu + MgSO4 + 2H2O → H2 + CuSO4 + Mg(OH)2 ). Magnesium sulfate is mostly used for medicinal purposes however. It is found that people with diabetes have lower levels of magnesium in their bodies. Because of the high solubility of magnesium sulfate, it is often used to administer magnesium into the body. This allows diabetics to take small amount of magnesium sulfate to counteract some of the effects of diabetes. Another use for magnesium sulfate is found in bath salts. Magnesium sulfate was first discovered in a spring at Epsom. People who bathed in these waters often reported feeling refreshed and much more relaxed. It was discovered that these waters had high levels of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, which led to the more common name, Epsom salts. The property of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate to relax the body is what allows it to be used as a key component in bath salts. Coming in direct contact with pure magnesium sulfate can cause irritation, so it is advised to take caution when handling the compound. Inhalation and ingestion can have serious effects on the respiratory and digestive systems respectively. Magnesium sulfate is often administered to prevent seizures and convulsions during pregnancy. These convulsions are caused by the swelling of tissues in the arms and legs. Magnesium sulfate is used to reduce the amount of swelling in these tissues and therefore, help reduce or prevent future convulsions. Magnesium sulfate is also commonly used as a laxative. Magnesium sulfate is used to treat various metal poisonings, notably barium, because it helps to get rid of these types of metals by speeding up the digestive track. When administered, magnesium sulfate has effects on the body almost immediately and these effects will last for another three to four hours. However, since the removal of magnesium sulfate is entirely focused in the kidney, patients with kidney problems should avoid digesting any forms of magnesium sulfate. Magnesium sulfate is used agriculture as well. Magnesium sulfate is a key ingredient in many pesticides.
These principles of magnesium sulfate make it a very popular compound for many reasons. Magnesium sulfate has many different properties in the areas of medicine and agriculture that cannot be replaced by other substances. These medicinal, pharmaceutical, and agricultural uses are what make magnesium sulfate a popular and necessary compound in today’s society.
Magnesium Sulfate Reaction Procedures
The procedure that I used for creating magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) was to mix magnesium with sulfuric acid. This would create a synthesis reaction that would produce magnesium sulfate and hydrogen gas. The chemical equation is H2SO4 + Mg → MgSO4 + H2. I used 30.8 grams of sulfuric acid and 0.1 grams of magnesium. I poured the sulfuric acid into a test tube and then added the magnesium. The substance started to bubble as the reaction occurred. The bubbles were the release of the hydrogen gas and the newly formed magnesium sulfate settled to the bottom. The theoretical yield for this reaction was 0.496 grams of magnesium sulfate. The actual yield could not be determined because the magnesium sulfate was formed in small particles that were mixed around in the remaining sulfuric acid.
My reaction successfully produced the desired compound. The magnesium sulfate was easily visible at the bottom of the test tube. However, not all of the magnesium reacted with the sulfuric acid. This was probably due to using too low of a concentration of sulfuric acid. Other than that, the experiment ran smoothly showing exactly how magnesium sulfate can be easily formed for human usage.
Bibliography
Gotlib, Louis. "Magnesium Sulfate." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 3rd ed. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 2409-2410. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 8 Oct. 2012.
"Magnesium." Chemical Elements. David E. Newton. Ed. Kathleen J. Edgar. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: UXL, 2010. 325-332. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 8 Oct. 2012.
"Magnesium Sulfate." Chemical Compounds. Ed. Neil Schlager, Jayne Weisblatt, and David E. Newton. Vol. 2. Detroit: UXL, 2006. 429-433. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 8 Oct. 2012.
Magnesium Sulfate – Compound Summery. National Center for Biotechnology, nd. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. <http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov>
Yedidyah Langsam. MAGNESIUM SULFATE. Brooklyn College, nd. Web. 8 October 2012. <http://eilat.sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu>
Gotlib, Louis. "Magnesium Sulfate." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 3rd ed. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 2409-2410. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 8 Oct. 2012.
"Magnesium." Chemical Elements. David E. Newton. Ed. Kathleen J. Edgar. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: UXL, 2010. 325-332. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 8 Oct. 2012.
"Magnesium Sulfate." Chemical Compounds. Ed. Neil Schlager, Jayne Weisblatt, and David E. Newton. Vol. 2. Detroit: UXL, 2006. 429-433. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 8 Oct. 2012.
Magnesium Sulfate – Compound Summery. National Center for Biotechnology, nd. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. <http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov>
Yedidyah Langsam. MAGNESIUM SULFATE. Brooklyn College, nd. Web. 8 October 2012. <http://eilat.sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu>