Magnesium perchlorate

Magnesium perchlorate

Identifiers
CAS Number	10034-81-8 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	23223 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.030.086
PubChem CID	24840
RTECS number	SC8925000
UNII	7N77Z541YF N
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID70890617
InChI InChI=1S/2ClHO4.Mg/c2*2-1(3,4)5;/h2*(H,2,3,4,5);/q;;+2/p-2 Y Key: MPCRDALPQLDDFX-UHFFFAOYSA-L Y InChI=1/2ClHO4.Mg/c2*2-1(3,4)5;/h2*(H,2,3,4,5);/q;;+2/p-2 Key: MPCRDALPQLDDFX-NUQVWONBAH
SMILES [Mg+2].O=Cl(=O)(=O)[O-].[O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O
Properties
Chemical formula	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
Solubility in water	99.3 g/100 mL
Solubility in ethanol	23.96 g/100 mL
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	1 0 0 OX
Safety data sheet (SDS)	External MSDS
Related compounds
Other cations	Calcium perchlorate Barium perchlorate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) 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. The heat of formation is -568.90 kJ mol⁻¹.

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 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, but is no longer advised, for use as a general desiccant, due to hazards inherent in perchlorates. It is dried by heating at 220 °C under vacuum.

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

In 2011, a study conducted at the Georgia Institute of Technology revealed the presence of magnesium perchlorate on the planet Mars. Being a drying agent, magnesium perchlorate retains water from the atmosphere and may release it when conditions are favorable and temperature is above 250K. Because briny solutions that contain magnesium perchlorate have a lower melting point than that of pure water, their abundance on Mars could serve as evidence that liquid water may exist on its surface, where temperature and pressure conditions would ordinarily cause water to freeze.