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Magnesium silicate is a compound of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen found in natural and synthetic forms. Talc, a hydrated form of magnesium silicate, is commonly used in industrial and everyday applications. Synthetic magnesium silicate is used as a filter medium and in powdered foods. Other forms of magnesium silicate exist but are less common.
Magnesium silicate is a chemical compound made up of magnesium, silicon and oxygen. It exists in different forms, both natural and artificial. One of the most common forms of this compound is the mineral talc, which is found in deposits around the world and is used in many industrial and everyday applications. Synthetic forms are also widely used, especially as filters and additives in the food industry.
Talc is formed in metamorphic geological processes when certain minerals interact with water and carbon dioxide. The type of magnesium silicate that makes up talc is therefore said to be hydrated, that is, it contains water in its chemical composition. Talc appears as a white crystal or powder and is the softest known mineral.
A common application of magnesium silicate in its talc form is as talcum powder. This substance is used to make talcum powder as well as chalk powder used by athletes, such as gymnasts, to dry their hands for better grip. Talc is also found in some types of plaster, ceramics, cosmetics, paints and food products. In table salt, for example, talc is sometimes added to prevent caking. Most regulatory bodies consider talc to be safe in small concentrations, although inhaling or consuming larger concentrations can cause lung inflammation and other health problems.
Synthetic magnesium silicate, like talc, exists as a white powder, but has different chemical origins. It is produced by the reaction of sodium silicate and a magnesium compound, such as magnesium sulfate. When produced in this way, the particles of the compound are porous, meaning they consist of spaces through which liquids or gases can pass. This makes them useful as a filter medium.
In the food industry, synthetic magnesium silicate can be added to other filter media to adsorb impurities from used oil. It can also be added to powdered foods to keep them from forming lumps, such as with the use of talcum powder in table salt. Further applications of this substance are similar to those of talc and include ceramics and pharmaceuticals.
There are other forms of magnesium silicate as well, but they are less common. For example, the mineral enstatite is a naturally occurring form of this compound. Hydrated magnesium hexafluorosilicate, a compound that contains fluorine in addition to magnesium, silicon and oxygen, is produced for chemical research. Special forms of magnesium silicate are most often found in research laboratories and niche applications.
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