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| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChemSpider |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.031.597 |
| EC Number |
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| Properties | |
| MgS | |
| Molar mass | 56.38 g/mol |
| Appearance | white to reddish brown powder |
| Density | 2.84 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 2,000 °C (3,630 °F; 2,270 K) approx. |
| decomposes | |
| Structure | |
| Halite (cubic),cF8 | |
| Fm3m, No. 225 | |
| cubic | |
| Thermochemistry | |
| 45.6 J/mol K | |
Std molar entropy(S⦵298) | 50.3 J/mol K |
Std enthalpy of formation(ΔfH⦵298) | −347 kJ/mol |
| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards | Source ofH2S |
| Related compounds | |
Otheranions | Magnesium oxide |
Othercations | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Magnesium sulfide is aninorganic compound with the formulaMgS. It is a whitecrystalline material but often is encountered in an impure form that is brown and non-crystalline powder. It is generated industrially in the production of metallic iron.
MgS is formed by the reaction ofsulfur orhydrogen sulfide withmagnesium. It crystallizes in therock salt structure as its most stable phase, itszinc blende[1] andwurtzite[2] structures can be prepared bymolecular beam epitaxy. The chemical properties of MgS resemble those of related ionic sulfides such as those of sodium, barium, or calcium. It reacts with oxygen to form the corresponding sulfate,magnesium sulfate. MgS reacts with water to givehydrogen sulfide andmagnesium hydroxide.[3]
In theBOSsteelmaking process,sulfur is the first element to be removed. Sulfur is removed from the impure blast furnace iron by the addition of several hundred kilograms of magnesium powder by a lance. Magnesium sulfide is formed, which then floats on the molten iron and is removed.[4]
MgS is a wide band-gap directsemiconductor of interest as a blue-greenemitter, a property that has been known since the early 1900s.[5] The wide-band gap property also allows the use of MgS as photo-detector for short wavelength ultraviolet light.[6]
Aside from being a component of someslags, MgS is a rare nonterrestrialmineralniningerite detected in somemeteorites. It is also a solid solution component along with CaS and FeS inoldhamite. MgS is also found in the circumstellar envelopes of certain evolvedcarbon stars, i. e., those withC/O > 1.[7]
MgS evolveshydrogen sulfide upon contact with moisture.
