Magnesium sulfate is an inorganic compound containing magnesium, sulfur and oxygen, belongs to the sulphate class.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg. It is an essential mineral for the human body, involved in numerous biological processes, including regulating blood sugar levels and nerve and muscle function.
• sulfate refers to the sulfate group (SO₄²⁻), an inorganic compound containing sulfur and oxygen. Sulfates are known for their water solubility properties and are often used in medicine and cosmetics for their soothing and detoxifying properties.

Raw Materials Used in the Production

• Magnesium sulfate is primarily produced from magnesium-containing minerals such as magnesite (MgCO₃) or dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂), and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄).

Functions of Raw Materials:

Magnesium Minerals: Provide the magnesium element necessary for the formation of magnesium sulfate.

Sulfuric Acid: Reacts with magnesium minerals to produce magnesium sulfate and carbon dioxide (CO₂) or water (H₂O).

Industrial Chemical Synthesis Process

• Preparation: The mixture is prepared by combining magnesium minerals with sulfuric acid.
• Reaction: The reaction between magnesium minerals and sulfuric acid produces magnesium sulfate and carbon dioxide or water.
• Purification: The produced magnesium sulfate is purified to remove impurities.
• Crystallization: The purified magnesium sulfate is crystallized to obtain the desired form.
• Drying: The crystallized product is dried to remove residual water.

It takes the form of a white grainy powder.

What it is used for and where

Medical

Used as an anticonvulsant drug for the immediate control of life-threatening convulsions, for the treatment of eclampsia in pregnancy and in the treatment of acute nephritis in children. Also indicated for magnesium deficiency replacement therapy.

Cosmetics

Bulking agent. It regulates the water content, dilutes other solids, can increase the volume of a product for better flow, acts as a buffer against organic acids, helps to keep the pH of the mixture within a certain level.

Viscosity control agent. It controls and adapts, Increasing or decreasing, viscosity to the required level for optimal chemical and physical stability of the product and dosage in gels, suspensions, emulsions, solutions. 

Skin refreshing, purifying and sanitising agent.

Magnesium sulfate studies

• Molecular Formula: MgSO₄ or MgO₄S
• Molecular Weight: 120.361 g/mol
• CAS:  7487-88-9   18939-43-0   68081-97-0   22189-08-8
• EINECS 231-298-2
• PubChem Substance ID:329765769
• MDL number:MFCD00011110

Synonyms:

• Epsomite
• Epsom salt
• Magnesium sulphate
• Magnesium sulfate dried
• Sal Angalis
• Salts of england