What is magnesium chloride? What are its uses and harms?

magnesium chloride

Magnesium chloride is one of the types of magnesium mineral, which is called in English Magnesium Chloride, and the body needs magnesium mineral to stay healthy, as it is necessary for many body functions.

What is magnesium chloride?

Magnesium chloride is a white, highly hydrolyzed crystalline solid, and the chemical formula for magnesium chloride is MgCl2. Aqueous magnesium chloride is formed; Because magnesium chloride absorbs moisture from the air, often to the point of solubility in water, to give the aqueous form, and its chemical formula is (MgCl2.6H2O).

Magnesium chloride uses

Magnesium chloride is an important industrial chemical. It is used in the production of magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral that is essential to many body systems, such as the nervous system and bones.

In addition, magnesium chloride is one of the substances used for some medicines and nutritional supplements that help treat or prevent low levels of magnesium in the blood.

Magnesium chloride can also be used for:

  • in the manufacture of wound disinfectants; It does not cause tissue damage.
  • A component of the peritoneal dialysis solution.
  • To remove suspended particles in water and sewage treatment plants.
  • in the processing of sugar beet.
  • Soil erosion prevention.
  • Processing of cotton and woolen fabrics.
  • In the manufacture of the so-called Sorrel cement, which is a mixture of magnesium chloride and magnesium oxide, also known as oxychloride cement.
  • In resisting fire, in addition to being a component of fire extinguishers.
  • Defrosting agent.
  • To keep drilling tools cool.
  • In the manufacture of paper and ceramic materials.

magnesium chloride and a drop of cysteine

Systane drops are used to moisturize and treat dry eyes, which contain magnesium chloride as an active ingredient, in addition to calcium chloride. The drops are used to relieve burning and irritation of the eye.

You can learn more about eye drops and what are the appropriate doses of them, in addition to their possible harm, by reading our article on Systane eye drops for the treatment of irritation and dry eyes.

Magnesium chloride is a dietary supplement

Magnesium chloride is used as a food supplement when there is a deficiency in the level of magnesium in the blood, and then magnesium pills are resorted to, as magnesium deficiency may cause the following health problems:

  • Heart disease and diabetes.
  • some types of cancer
  • A risk factor for osteoporosis.

But you must consult a doctor before taking these pills, as some people have an allergy to magnesium chloride, which may cause serious side effects.

We advise you to read our article about magnesium pills, to know how to use it, and what are the side effects and warnings that must be taken into account before taking it.

How is magnesium chloride prepared?

Magnesium chloride is extracted from seawater, brine, or also through some minerals, by treating seawater, brine, or mineral with lime, and then adding hydrochloric acid (HCl) to recover aqueous magnesium chloride.

Pure magnesium chloride can also be obtained through the double salt known as Magnesium Ammonium Chloride, and its formula is (MgCl2.NH4Cl.6H2O).

This is done by heating the double salt, which first loses its hydration water to form the anhydrous double salt, and with further heating, the ammonium chloride sublimates, leaving behind pure anhydrous magnesium chloride.

Magnesium chloride damage

Magnesium chloride is safe to use, but some signs and symptoms may appear due to allergic reactions to the compound, or the following side effects may appear when exposed to a large dose of it:

  • Swelling of the face and throat.
  • feeling itchy
  • feeling dizzy
  • Feeling short of breath.
  • Digestive disorders, such as: colic or nausea.
  • Reduction of Blood pressure.

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