Magnesium carbonate
Magnesium Carbonate
Magnesium carbonate (pronunciation: mag-NEE-zee-um kahr-BOH-nayt), also known as magnesite, is a white solid that occurs in nature as a mineral.
Etymology
The term "magnesium" is derived from the Greek word "Magnesia", a district in Thessaly. The word "carbonate" comes from "carbon", which is derived from the Latin word "carbo", meaning "charcoal".
Description
Magnesium carbonate is an inorganic salt that is a white solid. It is insoluble in water and alcohol, but soluble in acids. It is commonly used in the medical field as an antacid or laxative to treat symptoms such as heartburn, upset stomach, or constipation.
Related Terms
- Magnesium: A chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray solid which bears a close physical resemblance to the other five elements in the second column (group 2, or alkaline earth metals) of the periodic table.
- Carbonate: A salt of carbonic acid (H2CO3), characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, a polyatomic ion with the formula of CO3^2−.
- Antacid: A substance which neutralizes stomach acidity and is used to relieve heartburn, indigestion or an upset stomach.
- Laxative: Substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Magnesium carbonate
- Wikipedia's article - Magnesium carbonate
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