Thursday, December 24, 2009

When magnesium carbonate is prepared it should wash with hot water. Why not with normal water?

MgCO3 is not very soluble in water. You didn't include enough information about how you're making it so I can't even guess as to what impurities it might contain. I can guess that there must be a major impurity such as the bicarbonate [Mg(HCO3)2] that is much more soluble in hot water than the carbonate.





Whenever there's a rinse in a synthesis, you can bet that the solvent recommended dissolves an impurity a whole lot better than what you're washing.

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