Magnesium perchlorate

Magnesium perchlorate
Identifiers
10034-81-8 Yes
ChemSpider 23223 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
PubChem 24840
RTECS number SC8925000
Properties
Mg(ClO4)2
Molar mass 223.206 g/mol
Appearance white powder,
deliquescent
Odor odorless
Density 2.21 g/cm3 (anhydrous)
1.98 g/cm3 (hexahydrate)
Melting point 251 °C (484 °F; 524 K) (anhydrous)
95-100 °C (hexahydrate)
Boiling point decomposition
99.3 g/100 mL
Solubility in ethanol 23.96 g/100 mL
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS
EU Index Not listed
R-phrases R8, R36, R37, R38
S-phrases S17, S26, S27, S36, S37, S39
NFPA 704
Related compounds
Other cations
 Calcium perchlorate
Barium perchlorate
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Magnesium perchlorate is a powerful oxidizing agent, with the formula Mg(ClO4)2. It is also a superior drying agent for gas analysis.

Magnesium perchlorate decomposes at 250 °C.[1] The heat of formation is -568.90 kJ mol−1.[2]

The enthalpy of solution is quite high, so reactions are done in large amounts of water to dilute it.

It is sold under the trade name anhydrone. Manufacture of this product on a semi-industrial scale was first performed by G. Frederick Smith Ph.D. in his garage in Urbana Illinois, but later at a permanent facility in Columbus, OH called G. Frederick Smith Chemical Co. He sold the magnesium perchlorate to A. H. Thomas Co., now Thomas Scientific, under the trade name Dehydrite.

It is used as desiccant to dry gas or air samples,[3][4] but is no longer advised, for use as a general desiccant, due to hazards inherent in perchlorates.[5] It is dried by heating at 250 °C under vacuum.

Magnesium perchlorate is created by the reaction of magnesium hydroxide and perchloric acid.

References

  1. ↑ CRC Handbook
  2. ↑ Lange's
  3. ↑ H. H. Willard, G. F. Smith (1922). "The Preparation and Properties of Magnesium Perchlorate and its Use as a Drying Agent". Journal of the American Chemical Society 44 (10): 2255–2259. doi:10.1021/ja01431a022.
  4. ↑ L. Wu, H. He (1994). "Preparation of perlite-based magnesium perchlorate desiccant with colour indicator". The Chemical Educator 41 (5): 633–637. doi:10.1016/0039-9140(94)80041-3.
  5. ↑ W. L. F. Armarego and C. Chai (2003). Purification of laboratory chemicals. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-7571-3.