Magnesium hydroxide

Magnesium hydroxide is an inorganic compound, Mg(OH)₂, that is sparingly soluble in water. It neutralizes acids and is used in antacids, laxatives, and industrial processes.

Solubility product: The equilibrium constant describing the dissolution of a sparingly soluble ionic solid. Its low solubility product limits how much magnesium hydroxide dissolves in water.
Milk of magnesia: An aqueous suspension of magnesium hydroxide used as an antacid and osmotic laxative. It is the familiar medicinal preparation of magnesium hydroxide.
Ionic compound: A substance composed of positively and negatively charged ions held together by electrostatic attraction. Magnesium hydroxide consists of Mg²⁺ and hydroxide ions in an ionic solid.
Magnesium oxide: An inorganic compound, MgO, used in refractory materials and as a source of magnesium. It is a less hydrated magnesium base that forms hydroxide upon reaction with water.
Acid–base reaction: A chemical reaction involving transfer of protons or formation of water from acidic and basic species. Magnesium hydroxide neutralizes acids by reacting its hydroxide ions with hydrogen ions.
Antacid: A substance that neutralizes stomach acid to relieve acid-related symptoms. Magnesium hydroxide is a non-systemic antacid that acts by neutralization.
Chemical formula: A symbolic representation showing the elements and relative numbers of atoms in a substance. Mg(OH)₂ shows that each magnesium ion pairs with two hydroxide ions.
Magnesium carbonate: A magnesium salt with formula MgCO₃, found in minerals and used in several industrial products. Unlike magnesium hydroxide, it neutralizes acid while releasing carbon dioxide.
Neutralization: A reaction in which an acid and a base reduce one another’s characteristic properties, often forming water and a salt. This reaction accounts for magnesium hydroxide’s antacid action in the stomach.
Osmotic laxative: A laxative that retains water in the intestine through osmotic effects, softening stool and promoting bowel movements. Unabsorbed magnesium salts draw water into the bowel after magnesium hydroxide is taken.

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