Magnesium sulfate constituents of evaporitic potassium-magnesium (K-Mg) salts deposits. Bright spots observed by the Dawn Spacecraft in Occator Crater on the dwarf planet Ceres are most consistent with reflected light from magnesium sulfate hexahydrate. Almost all known mineralogical forms of MgSO are hydrates. Epsomite is the natural analogue of "Epsom salt". Another heptahydrate, the copper-containing mineral alpersite (Mg,Cu)SO·7HO, was recently recognized. Both are, however, not the highest known hydrates of MgSO, due to the recent terrestrial find of meridianiite, MgSO·11HO, which is thought to also occur on Mars. Hexahydrite is the next lower (6) hydrate. Three next lower hydrates—pentahydrite, starkeyite, and especially
Magnesium iodide oxide. Another method to prepare MgI is mixing powdered elemental iodine and magnesium metal. In order to obtain anhydrous MgI, the reaction should be conducted in a strictly anhydrous atmosphere; dry-diethyl ether can be used as a solvent. Usage of magnesium iodide in the Baylis-Hillman reaction tends to give (Z)-vinyl compounds. Magnesium iodide Magnesium iodide is the name for the chemical compounds with the formulas MgI and its various hydrates MgI(HO). These salts are typical ionic halides, being highly soluble in water. Magnesium iodide has few commercial uses, but can be used to prepare compounds for organic synthesis. Magnesium iodide