magnesium sulfide soluble or insoluble is the question that has been posed. This article will give an answer to this question and also provide details of its chemical composition, structure and physical properties.
The compound magnesium sulfide has the structural formula MgS and is an inorganic compound. It is produced industrially as a byproduct of the manufacturing of metallic iron. It occurs naturally in the minerals brucite, carnallite, dolomite and magnesite, as well as in the niningerite mineral found in some meteorites.
It forms when Magnesium (Mg), a metal, reacts with Sulfide (S), a non-metal, to form an ionic bond. The ionic bond is formed as a result of the electrostatic force of attraction between the magnesium cation and the sulphur anion. Magnesium sulfide is soluble in water and other polar solvents. This is because the charges present on the magnesium cation and sulphur anion cancel each other out, making the compound neutrally charged.
Similarly, it is insoluble in non-polar solvents such as ether and carbon dioxide gas. It is also corrosive in nature and can damage the skin and eyes upon contact. It is also known to have an unpleasant smell.
Magnesium sulfide’s solubility is dependent on the solvent, hydration energy, and the interaction between the sulphur-oxygen double bonds and the magnesium–oxygen single bonds. If the sulphur-oxygen double bond is stronger than the magnesium–oxygen single bond, the magnesium sulfide will be more soluble. However, if the sulphur-oxygen double is weaker than the magnesium–oxygen single bond, then it will be less soluble.