Magnesium sulfate (medical use) ionic strength prevents some of the temporary skin wrinkling (partial maceration) which is caused by prolonged immersion of extremities in pure water. Magnesium and sulfate ions are naturally present in some mineral waters. The claimed health benefits of Epsom Salt baths have not been proven. A magnesium sulphate paste is also available which is claimed to be useful for small boils or localised infections. The standard British Pharmacopoeia composition is dried Magnesium Sulfate 47.76 % w/w, Phenol 0.49 % w/w. and glycerol (E422). Magnesium sulfate has been used as an experimental treatment of Irukandji syndrome caused by envenomation by certain
Magnesium chloride made from solar evaporation of seawater. Anhydrous magnesium chloride is the principal precursor to magnesium metal, which is produced on a large scale. Hydrated magnesium chloride is the form most readily available. MgCl crystallizes in the cadmium chloride motif, which features octahedral Mg centers. Several hydrates are known with the formula MgCl(HO), and each loses water at higher temperatures: x = 12 (−16.4 °C), 8 (−3.4 °C), 6 (116.7 °C), 4 (181 °C), 2 (about 300 °C). In the hexahydrate, the Mg is also octahedral, but is coordinated to six water ligands. The thermal dehydration of the hydrates MgCl(HO) (x