Question

Write the chemical formula of magnesium hydroxide.

Answer 1

Hint: Magnesium belongs to group II A (\[s\]-block). Magnesium sulfate reacts with alkaline water and forms an insoluble magnesium hydroxide.

Complete step by step answer:
* Magnesium hydroxide is a white color powder that has poor solubility in water.
* Magnesium hydroxide is an inorganic compound.
* The chemical formula of magnesium hydroxide is \[Mg{{(OH)}_{2}}\].
* The molecular weight of magnesium hydroxide is 58.31 gm/mol.
* We can prepare magnesium hydroxide from magnesium sulfate.

Additional information:
* Magnesium has two loosely bound valence electrons, so magnesium donates those two electrons and forms two bonds with two hydroxyl groups.
* In magnesium hydroxide (\[Mg{{(OH)}_{2}}\]), magnesium is positively charged (\[M{{g}^{2+}}\]) and hydroxide ion is negatively charged (\[O{{H}^{-}}\]).
* Magnesium hydroxide is called milk of magnesia.
* Magnesium hydroxide has low solubility, making it a weak base, it has pH of ~10.
* Magnesium hydroxide is used to treat occasional constipation in children and adults on a short-term basis.
* It occurs in nature as the mineral brucite.
* Magnesium hydroxide is a common chemical of antacids, such as milk of magnesia, as well as laxatives.
* Solid magnesium hydroxide has properties like smoke suppressing and flame retardant capacity.
* Magnesium hydroxide is the second major selling inorganic hydroxide as a flame retardant.

Note: Don’t be confused with the words magnesium hydroxide and magnesium oxide. Both are different. The chemical formulas of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium oxide are given below
Magnesium hydroxide: \[Mg{{(OH)}_{2}}\]
Magnesium oxide: \[MgO\]