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 perchlorate He sold the magnesium perchlorate to A. H. Thomas Co., now Thomas Scientific, under the trade name Dehydrite. It is used as desiccant to dry gas or air samples, but is no longer advised, for use as a general desiccant, due to hazards inherent in perchlorates. It is dried by heating at 220 °C under vacuum. Magnesium perchlorate is created by the reaction of magnesium hydroxide and perchloric acid. In 2011, a study conducted at the Georgia Institute of Technology revealed the presence of magnesium perchlorate on the planet Mars. Being a drying agent, magnesium perchlorate retains water from the