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Magnesium carbonate
 
 
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Magnesium carbonate, MgCO3, is a white solid
Solid

A solid object is in the states of matter characterized by resistance to deformation and changes of volume. In other words, it has high values both of Young's modulus and of shear modulus; this contrasts e.g....
 that occurs in nature as a mineral
Mineral

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid formed through Geology processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties....
. Several hydrated and basic
Base (chemistry)

In chemistry, a base is most commonly thought of as an aqueous substance that can accept protons. A base is also often referred to as an alkali if OH- ions are involved....
 forms of magnesium carbonate also exist as mineral
Mineral

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid formed through Geology processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties....
s. In addition, MgCO3 has a variety of uses.

most common magnesium carbonate forms are the anhydrous
Anhydrous

As a general term, a substance is said to be anhydrous if it contains no water. The way of achieving the anhydrous form differs from one substance to another....
 salt called magnesite
Magnesite

Magnesite is magnesium carbonate, magnesiumcarbonoxygen3. Iron substitutes for magnesium with a complete solution series with siderite, FeCO3....
 (MgCO3) and the di, tri, and pentahydrates known as barringtonite (MgCO3·2H2O), nesquehonite (MgCO3·3H2O), and lansfordite (MgCO3·5H2O), respectively.






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Magnesium carbonate, MgCO3, is a white solid
Solid

A solid object is in the states of matter characterized by resistance to deformation and changes of volume. In other words, it has high values both of Young's modulus and of shear modulus; this contrasts e.g....
 that occurs in nature as a mineral
Mineral

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid formed through Geology processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties....
. Several hydrated and basic
Base (chemistry)

In chemistry, a base is most commonly thought of as an aqueous substance that can accept protons. A base is also often referred to as an alkali if OH- ions are involved....
 forms of magnesium carbonate also exist as mineral
Mineral

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid formed through Geology processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties....
s. In addition, MgCO3 has a variety of uses.

Forms

The most common magnesium carbonate forms are the anhydrous
Anhydrous

As a general term, a substance is said to be anhydrous if it contains no water. The way of achieving the anhydrous form differs from one substance to another....
 salt called magnesite
Magnesite

Magnesite is magnesium carbonate, magnesiumcarbonoxygen3. Iron substitutes for magnesium with a complete solution series with siderite, FeCO3....
 (MgCO3) and the di, tri, and pentahydrates known as barringtonite (MgCO3·2H2O), nesquehonite (MgCO3·3H2O), and lansfordite (MgCO3·5H2O), respectively. Some basic forms such as artinite (MgCO3·Mg(OH)2·3H2O), hydromagnestite (4MgCO3·Mg(OH)2·4H2O), and dypingite (4MgCO3· Mg(OH)2·5H2O) also occur as minerals. Magnesite consists of white trigonal crystals. The anhydrous
Anhydrous

As a general term, a substance is said to be anhydrous if it contains no water. The way of achieving the anhydrous form differs from one substance to another....
 salt is practically insoluble in water
Water

Water is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or States of matter, but the substance also has a solid state, ice, and a gaseous state, water vapor or steam....
, acetone
Acetone

Acetone is the organic compound with the chemical formula OC2. This colorless, mobile, flammable liquid is the simplest example of the ketones....
, and ammonia
Ammonia

Ammonia is a chemical compound with the chemical formula nitrogenhydrogen. It is normally encountered as a gas with a characteristic pungent odor....
. All forms of magnesium carbonate react in acids. Magnesium carbonate crystallizes in the calcite
Calcite

Calcite is a Carbonate minerals and the most stable Polymorphism of calcium carbonate . The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite....
 structure where in Mg2+
Magnesium

Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, atomic weight 24.3050 and common oxidation number +2.Magnesium, an alkaline earth metal, is the ninth most abundance of the chemical elements in the universe by mass....
 is surrounded by six oxygen
Oxygen

Oxygen no O2 produced; 2) O2 produced, but absorbed in oceans & seabed rock; 3) O2 starts to gas out of the oceans, but is absorbed by land surfaces and formation of ozone layer; 4-5) O2 sinks filled and the gas accumulates]]...
 atoms. The dihydrate one has a triclinic structure, while the trihydrate has a monoclinic structure.

References to 'light' and 'heavy' magnesium carbonates actually refer to the magnesium hydroxy carbonates hydromagnesite
Hydromagnesite

Hydromagnesite is a hydrated magnesium carbonate minerals mineral which generally occurs associated with the weathering products of magnesium containing minerals such as serpentine or brucite....
 and dypingite (respectively).

Reactions

Although magnesium carbonate is ordinarily obtained by mining the mineral magnesite, the trihydrate salt, MgCO3·3H2O, can be prepared by mixing solutions of magnesium
Magnesium

Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, atomic weight 24.3050 and common oxidation number +2.Magnesium, an alkaline earth metal, is the ninth most abundance of the chemical elements in the universe by mass....
 and carbonate
Carbonate

In chemistry, a carbonate is a salt or ester of carbonic acid....
 ions under an atmosphere of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalent bond to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth's atmosphere in this state....
. Magnesium carbonate can also be synthesized by exposing a magnesium hydroxide
Magnesium hydroxide

Magnesium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Mg2. As a suspension in water, it may be referred to as Milk of Magnesia....
 slurry to carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalent bond to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth's atmosphere in this state....
 under pressure
Pressure

Pressure is the force per unit area applied to an object in a direction surface normal to the surface. Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to the local atmospheric or ambient pressure....
 (3.5 to 5 atm) below 50 °C, which gives soluble magnesium bicarbonate: Mg(OH)2 + 2 CO2 ? Mg(HCO3)2

Following the filtration of the solution, the filtrate is dried under vacuum to produce magnesium carbonate as a hydrated salt: Mg2+ + 2 HCO3- ? MgCO3 + CO2 + H2O

When dissolved with acid
Acid

An acid is traditionally considered any chemical compound that, when dissolved in water, gives a solution with a hydrogen ion Activity greater than in pure water, i.e....
, magnesium carbonate decomposes with release of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalent bond to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth's atmosphere in this state....
: MgCO3 + 2 HCl ? MgCl2 + CO2 + H2O MgCO3 + H2SO4 ? MgSO4 + CO2 + H2O

At high temperatures (800C-1000C), MgCO3 decomposes to magnesium oxide
Magnesium oxide

Magnesium oxide, or magnesia, is a white solid mineral that occurs naturally as periclase and is a source of magnesium . It has an empirical formula of ....
 and carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalent bond to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth's atmosphere in this state....
 with reaction enthalpy
Enthalpy

In thermodynamics and chemistry, the enthalpy is a quotient or description of thermodynamic potential of a system, which can be used to calculate the heat transfer during a quasistatic process taking place in a closed system thermodynamic system under constant pressure....
 118 kJ / mole, this process is called calcining: MgCO3 ? MgO + CO2

Uses

Magnesite and dolomite
Dolomite

Dolomite is the name of a sedimentary carbonate rock and a mineral, both composed of calcium magnesium carbonate calciummagnesium2 found in crystals....
 minerals are used to produce magnesium
Magnesium

Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, atomic weight 24.3050 and common oxidation number +2.Magnesium, an alkaline earth metal, is the ninth most abundance of the chemical elements in the universe by mass....
 metal and basic refractory bricks. MgCO3 is also used in flooring, fireproofing, fire extinguishing compositions, cosmetics, dusting powder, and toothpaste. Other applications are as filler material, smoke suppressant in plastics, a reinforcing agent in neoprene rubber, a drying agent, a laxative to loosen the bowels, and color retention in foods. In addition, high purity magnesium carbonate is used as antacid
Antacid

An antacid is any substance, generally a Base or basic salt, which counteracts gastric acid. In other words, antacids are stomach acid neutralization ....
 and as an additive in table salt to keep it free flowing.

Because of its water-insoluble, hygroscopic
Hygroscopy

Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract water molecules from the surrounding Natural environment through either absorption or adsorption....
 properties MgCO3 was first added to salt in 1911 to make the salt flow more freely. The Morton Salt
Morton Salt

Morton Salt is a United States company producing salt for food, water conditioning, industrial, agricultural, and road/highway use.The company began in Chicago, Illinois in 1848 as a small sales agency....
 company adopted the slogan "When it rains it pours" in reference to the fact that its MgCO3-containing salt would not stick together in wet weather.

Magnesium carbonate, most often referred to as 'chalk', is used as a drying agent for hands in rock climbing
Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up or across natural Rock formations or man-made climbing wall with the goal of reaching the Summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route....
, gymnastics
Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility and coordination. Artistic Gymnastics is the best known and most popular of the gymnastics sports governed by the F?d?ration Internationale de Gymnastique ....
, and weight lifting.

Magnesium carbonate is also used in taxidermy for whitening skulls. It can be mixed with hydrogen peroxide to create a paste, which is then spread on the skull to give it a white finish.

Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide is used as a clay in face masks, it has mild astringent properties and helps to smooth and soften skin. Recommended for use on normal to dry skins.

Food additive

As a food additive magnesium carbonate is known as E504, for which the only known side effect is that it may work as a laxative
Laxative

Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the Colon for rectum and bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas in that circumstance....
 in high concentrations.

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