Chemical Properties
Red-brown, crystalline solid.decomposes in water.
Chemical Properties
Magnesium Sulfide is a red-brown, crystalline solid, decomposes above 2000 C, decomposes in water.
Physical properties
MgS is a white crystalline material but is often
encountered in an impure form that is a brown noncrystalline
powder.
The chemical properties of MgS resemble those of
related ionic sulfides such as those of Na, Ba, and Ca.
Magnesium Sulfide reacts with oxygen to form the corresponding sulfate,
magnesium sulfate. MgS reacts with water to give
hydrogen sulfide and magnesium hydroxide.
Uses
Magnesium Sulfide is the source of hydrogen sulfide, laboratory reagent.
Preparation
Magnesium Sulfide
can be prepared by the direct reaction of the elements,
calcined in an inert atmosphere, at a 1:1.1 molecular
ratio:
Mg＋ S＋ heat→MgS
MgS also forms by the reaction of hydrogen sulfide gas with soluble magnesium salts in solution.
Aside from being a component
of some slags, MgS is a rare nonterrestial mineral
“niningerite” detected in some meteorites.
Magnesium sulfide is available commercially from
a number of suppliers.
