The Chemical formula of magnesium chloride is MgCl2.
Characteristics of magnesium chloride
| Characteristics | Details |
| Chemical formula | MgCl2 |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Appearance | White or colorless crystalline solid or powder |
| Boiling point | 1,412 °C (2,574 °F; 1,685 K) |
| Solubility | Soluble in water and ethanol, slightly soluble in acetone and ether |
| Melting point | 714 °C (1,317 °F; 987 K) |
| Electrical conductivity | Magnesium chloride in water solution can conduct electricity |
| Density | 2.32 g/cm³ (anhydrous), 1.56 g/cm³ (hexahydrate) |
| pH | 5.0 – 9.0 |
| Hygroscopicity | Hygroscopic(meaning it can take up water from the air and form hydrated compounds) (e.g. MgCl2·6H2O) |
| Common uses | · Deicing agent
· food additive, · dust suppressant · electrolyte · catalyst · and in various industrial processes |
Reaction of magnesium chloride with Alkali Metal
| Alkali Metal | Reaction with Magnesium Chloride | Products |
| Lithium | MgCl2 + 2Li → 2LiCl + Mg | Lithium chloride |
| Sodium | MgCl2 + 2Na → 2NaCl + Mg | Sodium chloride |
| Potassium | MgCl2 + 2K → 2KCl + Mg | Potassium chloride |
| Rubidium | MgCl2 + 2Rb → 2RbCl + Mg | Rubidium chloride |
| Cesium | MgCl2 + 2Cs → 2CsCl + Mg | Cesium chloride |
| Francium | MgCl2 + 2Fr → 2FrCl + Mg | Francium chloride |
Reaction of magnesium chloride with Alkaline Earth Metal
| Alkaline Earth Metal | Reaction with Magnesium Chloride | Products |
| Beryllium | MgCl2 + Be → BeCl2 + Mg | Beryllium chloride |
| Magnesium | No reaction | No reaction |
| Calcium | MgCl2 + Ca → CaCl2 + Mg | Calcium chloride |
| Strontium | MgCl2 + Sr → SrCl2 + Mg | Strontium chloride |
| Barium | MgCl2 + Ba → BaCl2 + Mg | Barium chloride |
| Radium | MgCl2 + Ra → RaCl2 + Mg | Radium chloride (unstable) |
Reaction of magnesium chloride with Transition Metal
| Transition Metal | Reaction with Magnesium Chloride | Products |
| Iron (Fe) | MgCl2 + Fe → FeCl2 + Mg | Iron(II) chloride |
| Copper (Cu) | MgCl2 + Cu →no result | nill(copper is less reactive than magnesium) |
| Zinc (Zn) | MgCl2 + Zn → ZnCl2 + Mg | Zinc chloride |
| Nickel (Ni) | MgCl2 + Ni →no result | nill |
| Cobalt (Co) | MgCl2 + Co →no result | nill |
Reaction of magnesium chloride with Non-Transition Metal
| Non-Transition Metal | Reaction with Magnesium Chloride | Products |
| Aluminum (Al) | MgCl2 + 2Al → 2AlCl3 + Mg | Aluminum chloride |
| Tin (Sn) | MgCl2 + Sn → SnCl2 + Mg | Tin(II) chloride |
| Lead (Pb) | MgCl2 + Pb → PbCl2 + Mg | Lead(II) chloride |
| Silicon (Si) | MgCl2 + Si →no result | nill |
| Carbon (C) | MgCl2 + C →no result | nill |
Reaction of magnesium chloride with Non-Metal
| Non-Metal | Reaction with Magnesium Chloride | Products |
| Hydrogen | MgCl2 + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2 | Hydrogen gas ,magnesium chloride |
| Oxygen | 2MgCl2 + O2 → 2MgO + 2Cl2 | Magnesium oxide ,chlorine gas |
| Nitrogen | MgCl2 + 2NH3 → Mg(NH3)2 + 2HCl | Magnesium amide ,hydrogen chloride |
| Sulfur | MgCl2 + H2S → MgS + 2HCl | Magnesium sulfide ,hydrogen chloride |
| Carbon | MgCl2 + C2H2 →no result | nill(acetylene is less reactive than magnesium) |
Reaction of magnesium chloride with Metalloid
| Metalloid | Reaction with Magnesium Chloride | Products |
| Boron | MgCl2 + B →no result | nill(boron is less reactive than magnesium) |
| Silicon | MgCl2 + Si →no result | nill(silicon is less reactive than magnesium) |
| Germanium | MgCl2 + Ge →no result | nill(germanium is less reactive than magnesium) |
| Arsenic | MgCl2 + As →no result | nill(arsenic is less reactive than magnesium) |
| Antimony | MgCl2 + Sb →no result | nill(antimony is less reactive than magnesium) |