Magnesium Hydroxide Formula
If we take the example of brucite then it is prepared by alkali-carbonate reaction where magnesium carbonate reacts with alkalis that could be \( NaOH \) or \( KOH \) etc and releasing magnesium hydroxide in the end. This is an odorless chemical compound having white solid on nature with a total density of 2.34 g/mL and a melting point of 350 degrees Celsius approximately.
Magnesium hydroxide Formula = \( MgCO_3 + 2NaOH \to Mg(OH)_2 + Na_2CO_3 \)
Chemical Properties = \( Mg(OH)_2 \to MgO + HO \)
Moving ahead with chemical properties, the chemical compound undergoes endothermic reaction at high temperatures and decomposes to form magnesium oxide and water. Further, it is a powerful fire fighting agent too due to its smoke suspension capabilities.
What is Magnesium hydroxide?
The Magnesium hydroxide is a non-toxic and aqueous suspension and another name for the chemical substance is common antacid or milky magnesia. The chemical formula for the compound is given as \( Mg (OH)_2 \) with a molecular mass of 58.32 g/mol.
Magnesium hydroxide Structure
The chemical structure of the molecule is also given below where one magnesium atom is attached with two hydroxyl groups by single bonds. This compound is ionic in nature exists mainly magnesium and \( OH \) ions.
The natural occurrence of the chemical compound can be felt in mineral brucite and widely used for a variety of applications. It is prepared by mixing magnesium chloride with calcium oxide to form magnesium and \( OH \) ions. It is available in seawater in the form of salts and easy to extract from the same whenever needed. The other popular process is the electrolysis process of fused magnesium chloride that is also releasing magnesium hydroxide in the same way.