Synthetic magnesium silicate Synthetic magnesium silicate Synthetic magnesium silicates are white, odorless, finely divided powders formed by the precipitation reaction of water-soluble sodium silicate (water glass) and a water-soluble magnesium salt such as magnesium chloride, magnesium nitrate or magnesium sulfate. The composition of the precipitate depends on the ratio of the components in the reaction medium, the addition of the correcting substances, and the way in which they are precipitated. The molecular formula is typically written as MgO:XSiO, where X denotes the average mole ratio of SiO to MgO. The product is hydrated and the formula is sometimes written MgO:XSiO•HO to show the
Magnesium carbonate Magnesium carbonate Magnesium carbonate, MgCO (archaic name magnesia alba), is an inorganic salt that is a white solid. Several hydrated and basic forms of magnesium carbonate also exist as minerals. The most common magnesium carbonate forms are the anhydrous salt called "magnesite" (MgCO) and the di, tri, and pentahydrates known as "barringtonite" (MgCO·2 HO), "nesquehonite" (MgCO·3 HO), and "lansfordite" (MgCO·5 HO), respectively. Some basic forms such as "artinite" (MgCO·Mg(OH)·3 HO), "hydromagnesite" (4 MgCO·Mg(OH)·4 HO), and "dypingite" (4 MgCO· Mg(OH)·5 HO) also occur as minerals. Magnesite consists of white trigonal crystals. The anhydrous salt is practically insoluble in water, acetone, and