Uses of Magnesium Chloride

When observed in its purest form, magnesium chloride is generally a white or colorless, bitter tasting and odorless compound. Its chemical formula is MgCl₂ and usually it is present in hydrated forms such as MgCl₂.6H₂O. The compound is a Lewis acid because of its ability to accept lone pair electrons, and is highly soluble. It is extracted from seawater and is a good source for the production of magnesium, which in turn is used for various metallurgical processes. From the kitchen-tables to the highway constructions, there are a variety of uses of magnesium chloride. Industrially, magnesium chloride is prepared using magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the process is known as Dow's process.

Following are some of the uses of magnesium chloride.

As an Anti-icer
Magnesium chloride is used as a de-icer or anti-icer by many state highway departments throughout the United States. It has decreased the use of rock salt and sand on roadways as its use improves highway safety and driving conditions. For this purpose, liquid magnesium chloride is sprayed on a dry pavement before precipitation or wet pavement before the freezing temperatures in winter months. This helps to prevent snow and ice from adhering and bonding to the roadway. It is also utilized in households and business places, to de-ice sidewalks and driveways.

For controlling dust and erosion on roads
Powdered or liquid magnesium chloride can be used to control dust and erosion on unimproved roads by absorbing moisture from the air and controlling the airborne small particles. It is also used at dusty job sites such as quarries and added to other floor materials, to control dust.

For the preparation of Tofu from soy milk
Tofu is a Chinese food and is also known as bean curd. It is made by coagulating soy milk and sold in Japan as nigari, which is a white powder. Magnesium chloride used as an important coagulant in the preparation of tofu from soy milk because of its high solubility in water.

For the production of magnesium supplement
Magnesium is an important element for the proper functioning of the human body. It is also required for digestion, proper muscle functioning and controlling electrical conduction in the heart, and its deficiency may increases the risk of diastolic hypertension and abnormal heart rhythms. Magnesium chloride is considered to be a trusted magnesium supplement and its proper intake helps to balance the quantity of magnesium in the body. It scores a point over other available magnesium supplements because of its ability to provide greater proportions of magnesium per molecule.

For storage of hydrogen
Magnesium chloride is used as a storage material for hydrogen and ammonia is used as an intermediate storage material, in the process. When ammonia is adsorbed onto solid magnesium chloride, Mg(NH₃)₆Cl is formed, which helps in the storage of hydrogen.

Other uses
Besides the applications mentioned above, magnesium chloride is also used in the manufacture of fireproofing agents, various textiles, cements and refrigeration brine and paper.

Magnesium chloride has many applications in our day to day lives, provided it is used prudently and in the correct form. Its high solubility in water makes it a desirable compound amongst scientists, in order to carry out some specific experiments in the lab.