Magnesium sulfate, commonly known as "laxative salt", is a widely used inorganic compound. Its functions can be mainly divided into three aspects according to different application fields: medical and health, agricultural production, and industrial applications.
In the medical field, magnesium sulfate plays multiple important roles. When used as an injection, it is a key drug for treating gestational hypertension diseases such as preeclampsia and eclampsia, which can effectively prevent and control seizures and have a blood pressure lowering effect. Oral administration of high concentration magnesium sulfate solution is a potent laxative that forms high osmotic pressure in the intestine, absorbs water, softens feces, stimulates intestinal peristalsis, and rapidly induces diarrhea. It is commonly used for bowel preparation before colonoscopy or to eliminate toxins from the body. In addition, applying its solution topically with wet compress is one of the commonly used physical therapies at home, which utilizes its high osmotic properties to reduce swelling of local tissues caused by sprains, contusions, or inflammation.
In agricultural production, magnesium sulfate is a high-quality fertilizer that provides two essential nutrients for plants: magnesium and sulfur. Magnesium is the core atom that constitutes plant chlorophyll and directly participates in photosynthesis; Magnesium deficiency can lead to chlorosis and yellowing between the veins of old leaves, seriously affecting crop growth and yield. Sulfur is an important component in the synthesis of proteins and enzymes. Therefore, supplementing magnesium sulfate is crucial for improving crop quality and yield.
In the industrial field, magnesium sulfate is a fundamental raw material for many chemical processes. It can be used to manufacture other magnesium salts, as a mordant in the printing and dyeing textile industry, as a filler in the paper industry, and as a nutrient source in the fermentation industry. In addition, it can even be used as a fireproof and flame-retardant additive for cement. It is worth mentioning that high-purity magnesium sulfate is also one of the important raw materials for preparing precursor materials for lithium battery cathode materials (such as high-purity manganese sulfate), which makes it occupy a place in the modern new energy industry.
In summary, magnesium sulfate plays an irreplaceable role with its diverse characteristics, from hospital delivery rooms to vast farmland, from family medicine cabinets to high-tech battery factories.