Magnesium tellurate has the molecular formula of
MgTeO4 and the molecular weight of 215.9026 g/mol.
Its CAS number is 15852-08-1. Its density is 3.16 g/cm3
and it is sparingly soluble in water (4.07 g/100 ml of
water at 20°C). It can be prepared by the solid-state
reaction of TeO3 and MgO:
MgO + TeO3 + heat ? MgTeO4
TeO3 melts at 430°C and a temperature of 550°C
serves to drive the reaction to completion. This is the
tetragonal composition. It can also be formed in the
same manner by solid-state reaction of telluric acid:
MgO(solid)+ H2TeO4(solid) ? MgTeO4(solid)+H2O(gas)
This is also tetragonal (magnesium meta-tellurate).
Telluric acid is soluble in water and produces
Te(OH)4O2-
anions in solutions.
If magnesium chloride is added, the product is
a tetrahydrate:
MgCl2(aq) +H2Te(OH)4(aq) ? MgTeO2(OH)4
