Magnesiumsulfaat

Magnesium sulfate, with the chemical formula MgSO4, is an inorganic salt that forms several hydrates. The most common hydrate is the heptahydrate MgSO4·7H2O, known as epsomite or Epsom salt. Anhydrous magnesium sulfate and the monohydrate MgSO4·H2O (kieserite) also occur in nature and as commercial products. Magnesium sulfate is highly soluble in water; on heating, the hydrates lose water and anhydrous MgSO4 is obtained.

In nature, magnesium sulfate occurs in evaporite deposits and in mineral springs. The minerals kieserite (MgSO4·H2O) and epsomite (MgSO4·7H2O) are common forms. It is also found in various brines and salt deposits worldwide.

Applications of magnesium sulfate are diverse. In medicine, it is used as a laxative and as a source of magnesium for treating deficiency; it is administered intravenously or intramuscularly in obstetric care to prevent seizures in preeclampsia and to treat eclampsia. In agriculture, it is used as a magnesium and sulfur fertilizer for crops and is applied to soils deficient in Mg or sulfur. In industry, magnesium sulfate serves as a drying agent for gases and solvents and is used in various chemical synthesis and paper production processes.

Safety and handling: excessive intake can cause diarrhea and dehydration, and chronic exposure may lead to hypermagnesemia, particularly in people with kidney impairment. It should be used under medical supervision for intravenous administration, and the solid should be stored in a dry place to prevent hydration or clumping.

History: the compound is traditionally associated with Epsom, England, from which the common name Epsom salt derives. The term magnesium sulfate is widely used in scientific literature; in Dutch the term is magnesiumsulfaat.