Magnesium bicarbonate or magnesium hydrogencarbonate, Mg( H CO₃)₂, is the

bicarbonate In inorganic chemistry, bicarbonate (IUPAC-recommended nomenclature: hydrogencarbonate) is an intermediate form in the deprotonation of carbonic acid. It is a polyatomic anion with the chemical formula . Bicarbonate serves a crucial bioche ...

salt of

magnesium Magnesium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 ...

. It can be formed through the reaction of dilute solutions of

carbonic acid Carbonic acid is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . The molecule rapidly converts to water and carbon dioxide in the presence of water. However, in the absence of water, it is quite stable at room temperature. The interconversion ...

(such as

seltzer water Carbonated water is water containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas, either artificially injected under pressure, or occurring due to natural geological processes. Carbonation causes small bubbles to form, giving the water an effervescent qualit ...

) and

magnesium hydroxide Magnesium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Mg(OH)2. It occurs in nature as the mineral brucite. It is a white solid with low solubility in water (). Magnesium hydroxide is a common component of antacids, such as milk o ...

(milk of magnesia). It can be prepared through the synthesis of magnesium acetate and

sodium bicarbonate Sodium bicarbonate ( IUPAC name: sodium hydrogencarbonate), commonly known as baking soda or bicarbonate of soda (or simply “bicarb” especially in the UK) is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. It is a salt composed of a sodium cat ...

: :: Magnesium bicarbonate exists only in aqueous solution. Magnesium does not form solid bicarbonate as does lithium. To produce it, a suspension of magnesium hydroxide is treated with pressurized

carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalent bond, covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in a gas state at room temperature and at norma ...

, producing a solution of magnesium bicarbonate: ::Mg(OH)₂ + 2 CO₂ → Mg(HCO₃)₂ Drying the resulting solution causes the magnesium bicarbonate to decompose, yielding

magnesium carbonate Magnesium carbonate, (archaic name magnesia alba), is an inorganic salt that is a colourless or white solid. Several hydrated and Base (chemistry), basic forms of magnesium carbonate also exist as minerals. Forms The most common magnesium car ...

, carbon dioxide, and water: ::Mg²⁺ + 2 HCO₃⁻ → MgCO₃ + CO₂ + H₂O

References

{{Carbonates Magnesium compounds Bicarbonates