Solid phase
Official name
Magnesium(II) sulfate dihydrate
Secondary names
Magnesium sulphate dihydrate
Family
ionic solid
Class
normal salt
Compound type
sulfate
Comments
Magnesium sulfate dihydrate occurs as a mineral: Sanderite
Formula
Mg2+SO242H2O
Chemical formula
MgSO4•2H2O
Elemental formula
(Mg2+) S O4 (O-)2 H4
Isotope mixture type
terrestrial abundance
8.0
  Formula Name Family Number min-max Mole fraction Isotope mole fraction State Relevance
Mg2+ Magnesium(II) cation element 1 0.25 1 constituent cation main
(SO4)2 Sulfate anion chemical function 1 0.25 1 anionic radical main
H2O Water molecule 2 0.5 1 hydration main
Chemical functions
  Function Number
(SO4)2 1
ROH 2
Chemical bonds
  Bond Number
Mg2+O 2
OH 4
OH 2
4
Class
normal salts (07)
Type
hydrated simple normal salts (07.04)
Equivalent mineral
Sanderite
Phase type
crystalline
Crystal system
orthorhombic
Crystal class
disphenoidal
Crystal class symbol
222 (D2)
Crystal spacegroup
P2(1)2(1)2(1)
Molar mass
156.40 g/mol
Density
2.37 g/cm^3
State NTP
solid
Refringence type
biaxial
Refringence sign
unknown
Pure color
colorless
Color
colorless, white
Diaphaneity
transparent to translucent
Luster
vitreous