Research Paper
Kayla Grundy
Mrs. Watson
2nd period
October 23, 2013
Magnesium Sulfate
Magnesium sulfate is a compound that was discovered by a farmer in Epsom, England in 1618. The farmer noticed that his cows refused the water he had offered them from a well because of its bitter taste. Upon closer examination he realized the water healed cuts and rashes; the news and fame of the “Epsom salts” spread (webelements.com). The salts were later recognized as magnesium sulfate after Joseph Black acknowledged magnesium as an element in 1755.
Magnesium sulfate has many physical and chemical properties with which to distinguish the compound. It is colorless, odorless, and has thin needle – like structures. As aforementioned, it has a slightly bitter taste. It is highly soluble in inorganic solvents such as water and is partially soluble in organic substances like glycerin and alcohol. It is also noted to have the ability to “convert acoustic sound into heat energy” (buzzle.com). Chemically, the compound is found in various forms of hydrates, besides heptahydrate, including hexahydrate, pentahydrate, starkeyite, and sanderite, although the occurrence of such hydrates are rare. On a pH scale, magnesium sulfate’s value is around 6.0, which is slightly acidic. Its reaction with water is that it splits the compound into ions of magnesium and sulfate (buzzle.com).
Magnesium sulfate forms as an ionic bond because the bond consists of a metal bonding to two nonmetals; magnesium is the positively charged metal, while sulfate and oxygen are the negatively charged nonmetals, which make up the “sulfate”; the compound overall is neutral (its charge equals 0). Altogether both form a crystal-like solid, which has a high melting point, is hard and brittle, and can conduct an electric current when it is melted or dissolved in water. The resulting bond is represented as MgSO4 (buzzle.com).
Magnesium sulfate had a wide variety of uses, but is mainly used for medical reasons. The compound is best known “for treating minor inflammation and muscle aches. Soaking in an Epsom salt bath releases magnesium ions that are absorbed by the skin” (DeCarbo, “Quick Cures/Quack Cures: Is Epsom Worth Its Salt?”). These ions then “interfere with receptors in the brain that register pain,” which helps ease the discomfort and potency of the wound or inflammation. The sulfate in the compound is useful when placed into bodily systems to lessen the discomfort associated with sprains, strains, the flu and other aches. People with low sulfate levels, such as those plagued with arthritis, would benefit from it the most because they lack enough of a chemical that is important for joint and tissue function. Magnesium sulfate is beneficial for neuroprotection as well, as the compound can lower cerebral palsy, particularly when administered to a preterm baby (Magnee, et all, Magnesium Sulfate for Fetal Neuroprotection.)
The compound is administered to pregnant women during pregnancy for treatment of conditions, such as prevention of seizures in preeclampsia and control of seizures in eclampsia, but this is also where many safety concerns about the use of magnesium sulfate come to light. According to Medical News Today, “The FDA reported that there are numerous risks associated with the administration of magnesium sulfate injection to pregnant women for longer than 5 days” (Nordqvist, “Magnesium Sulfate Injections Put Fetus at Risk”). The health problems it can cause for the fetus or developing baby can include low calcium levels, bone problems, osteopenia, or fractures. The agency also says “it does not know what a safe period of treatment with magnesium sulfate injections is, regarding minimizing health problems for the fetus” (Nordqvist, “Magnesium Sulfate Injections Put Fetus at Risk”). The agency has been warning doctors of the potential health risks of the compound for many years, as there have been instances of negatively affected babies due to magnesium sulfate administration.
Magnesium sulfate has been used for millennia and has proven to be an asset when healing the body, though it has health risks, especially when administered to premature babies. With more research being done on the compound it can most likely be used as a valuable asset in health and in many other respects.
Mrs. Watson
2nd period
October 23, 2013
Magnesium Sulfate
Magnesium sulfate is a compound that was discovered by a farmer in Epsom, England in 1618. The farmer noticed that his cows refused the water he had offered them from a well because of its bitter taste. Upon closer examination he realized the water healed cuts and rashes; the news and fame of the “Epsom salts” spread (webelements.com). The salts were later recognized as magnesium sulfate after Joseph Black acknowledged magnesium as an element in 1755.
Magnesium sulfate has many physical and chemical properties with which to distinguish the compound. It is colorless, odorless, and has thin needle – like structures. As aforementioned, it has a slightly bitter taste. It is highly soluble in inorganic solvents such as water and is partially soluble in organic substances like glycerin and alcohol. It is also noted to have the ability to “convert acoustic sound into heat energy” (buzzle.com). Chemically, the compound is found in various forms of hydrates, besides heptahydrate, including hexahydrate, pentahydrate, starkeyite, and sanderite, although the occurrence of such hydrates are rare. On a pH scale, magnesium sulfate’s value is around 6.0, which is slightly acidic. Its reaction with water is that it splits the compound into ions of magnesium and sulfate (buzzle.com).
Magnesium sulfate forms as an ionic bond because the bond consists of a metal bonding to two nonmetals; magnesium is the positively charged metal, while sulfate and oxygen are the negatively charged nonmetals, which make up the “sulfate”; the compound overall is neutral (its charge equals 0). Altogether both form a crystal-like solid, which has a high melting point, is hard and brittle, and can conduct an electric current when it is melted or dissolved in water. The resulting bond is represented as MgSO4 (buzzle.com).
Magnesium sulfate had a wide variety of uses, but is mainly used for medical reasons. The compound is best known “for treating minor inflammation and muscle aches. Soaking in an Epsom salt bath releases magnesium ions that are absorbed by the skin” (DeCarbo, “Quick Cures/Quack Cures: Is Epsom Worth Its Salt?”). These ions then “interfere with receptors in the brain that register pain,” which helps ease the discomfort and potency of the wound or inflammation. The sulfate in the compound is useful when placed into bodily systems to lessen the discomfort associated with sprains, strains, the flu and other aches. People with low sulfate levels, such as those plagued with arthritis, would benefit from it the most because they lack enough of a chemical that is important for joint and tissue function. Magnesium sulfate is beneficial for neuroprotection as well, as the compound can lower cerebral palsy, particularly when administered to a preterm baby (Magnee, et all, Magnesium Sulfate for Fetal Neuroprotection.)
The compound is administered to pregnant women during pregnancy for treatment of conditions, such as prevention of seizures in preeclampsia and control of seizures in eclampsia, but this is also where many safety concerns about the use of magnesium sulfate come to light. According to Medical News Today, “The FDA reported that there are numerous risks associated with the administration of magnesium sulfate injection to pregnant women for longer than 5 days” (Nordqvist, “Magnesium Sulfate Injections Put Fetus at Risk”). The health problems it can cause for the fetus or developing baby can include low calcium levels, bone problems, osteopenia, or fractures. The agency also says “it does not know what a safe period of treatment with magnesium sulfate injections is, regarding minimizing health problems for the fetus” (Nordqvist, “Magnesium Sulfate Injections Put Fetus at Risk”). The agency has been warning doctors of the potential health risks of the compound for many years, as there have been instances of negatively affected babies due to magnesium sulfate administration.
Magnesium sulfate has been used for millennia and has proven to be an asset when healing the body, though it has health risks, especially when administered to premature babies. With more research being done on the compound it can most likely be used as a valuable asset in health and in many other respects.