MgSO4+heat

[Oban Kobi]

I crushed Magnesium Sulfate into a fine powder, and held a flame up to it. It started drying out (despite the apparent dry nature of it) and water, from who knows where, started boiling. I was left with a very hard clump of it, almost transparent. I could get it to glow red-hot, but not catch fire, and it would cool off the instant I removed the flame. Any ideas what's going on here? My thought is that the epsom salts gained water from the atmosphere, and the heat boiled it out.

[encipher]

Generally, Epsom salt is actually the heptahydrate (seven waters) of Magnesium Sulfate

 

MgSO4·7H2O

[Oban Kobi]

Hm. Cool. Thank you for your prompt, and helpful response. So much to learn, so little time. Thanks again:-)

[dubois928]

So would that leave you with anhydrous Magnesium sulfate?

 

Kenneth Anderson

[Melvin]

I could get it to glow red-hot, but not catch fire, and it would cool off the instant I removed the flame.

 

MgSO4 doesn't burn! It decomposes at 1124 celsius.