Breanne Bygrave
Honors Chemistry
Mr. Webb
February 27, 2014
Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium chloride is chemical compound with the formula MgCl2. Magnesium
chloride has many uses not only for medical treatment, but also for everyday in the world
problems (Mukherjee, Bidisha, “Magnesium Chloride Uses”; Buzzle.com). This chemical
compound has relatively brief, but unique history in how it was originally found to be useful
(Wright, Robert G, “Magnesium Chloride Oil”, americanacai.org). Magnesium chloride has
chemical properties (Harvenden, Johnson, “Magnesium Chloride”, chemicalland21.com) that are
unique to just this compound. Although the compounds chemical properties are unique its’
physical properties (Baker, John T) are not so much. Magnesium chloride is created in a type of
bonding (Burnaby, Brittany, “Ionic Bonding”, and Nobel.scas.brit.ca) that we have learned in
chemistry.
Magnesium chloride was a known chemical compound way before it was used for the
purposes they are used for today. In 1915 a French surgeon, Pierre Delbet, discovered that white
blood cells destroyed up to three times more microbes after the consumption of magnesium
chloride. Delbet was looking for a compound that will help kill infections, but was not as
harmful as the many other substances used before. Scientists found that the substances used
before magnesium chloride for medical treatment were ultimately harming the patience that used
it, instead of helping them.
Breanne Bygrave
Honors Chemistry
Mr. Webb
February 27, 2014
Magnesium chloride is a substance that has been tested by many scientist and students
many times before. When testing for the chemical properties scientist often look for chemical
stability, flash point and oxidation state. Magnesium chloride is stable under normal Earth
conditions. This compound can commonly be found in oceans. Magnesium chloride cannot be
burned. If one was to try and burn this compound it would give off an irritating, toxic fume.
Magnesium chloride can be described as a colorless crystal when in its’ solid state. It has
a solubility of 167 g/100mL in water at the temperature of 20◦C. Magnesium chloride is only
soluble in water and alcohol. This compound has a melting point of 118◦C and a boiling point of
1412◦C. Magnesium chloride, when in its’ anhydrous state has a density of 2.325 g/cm3 and
when in its’ hexahydrate state a density of 1.56 g/cm3.
Magnesium chloride is formed in a type of bonding called ionic bonding which I
previously stated. Magnesium chloride is formed when magnesium, which loses two electrons
when becoming a magnesium ion. Magnesium would then combine with chloride, which gains
two electrons when becoming two chloride atoms. The elements would then attract when two
electrons would be transferred from the magnesium ion to the chloride ion. These two elements
become a compound because their oppositely charged ions attract each other.
Magnesium chloride has many uses in the modern world. Some of these uses are medical
while some are not. Magnesium is found naturally in humans so some people use magnesium
chloride a natural supplement. Magnesium chloride is also used in the early stages polio and
diphtheria. Magnesium chloride is also commonly used in the north to remove accumulated ice
after precipitation. Another use of magnesium chloride is to control loose dust. It can also be
Breanne Bygrave
Honors Chemistry
Mr. Webb
February 27, 2014
used to store hydrogen gas. Magnesium chloride is used in some products such as soy milk. In
soy milk magnesium chloride is use for the coagulation of it .