| Applications | | | | transparent from 0.3 to 7 m. The refractive |
| Desiccant | | | | index is 1.72 at 1 m and the Abbe number is |
| MgO is an efficient moisture absorbent used by | | | | 53.58. It is sometimes known by the Eastman |
| many libraries for preserving books. It is also one | | | | Kodak trademarked name Irtran-5, although this |
| of the raw materials for making cement in dry | | | | designation is long since obsolete. Crystalline pure |
| process plants; specifically Portland cement. If too | | | | MgO is available commercially and has small use in |
| much of MgO is added, the cement may become | | | | infrared optics. |
| expansive. | | | | It is packed around transuranic waste at the |
| Medical | | | | Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, to control the solubility |
| In medicine, magnesium oxide is used for relief of | | | | of radionuclides. |
| heartburn and sore stomach, as an antacid, | | | | Precautions |
| magnesium supplement, and as a short-term | | | | Magnesium oxide is easily made by burning |
| laxative. It is also used to improve symptoms of | | | | magnesium ribbon which oxidizes in a bright white |
| indigestion. Side effects of magnesium oxide may | | | | light, resulting in a powder. However, the bright |
| include nausea and cramping. In quantities | | | | flame is very hard to extinguish and it emits a |
| sufficient to obtain a laxative effect, side effects | | | | harmful intensity of UV light. Inhalation of |
| of long-term use include enteroliths resulting in | | | | magnesium oxide fumes can cause metal fume |
| bowel obstruction. | | | | fever. |
| Other | | | | Gallery |
| MgO is used as an insulator in industrial cables, as | | | | Unpolished MgO crystal |
| a basic refractory material for crucibles and as a | | | | See also |
| principal fireproofing ingredient in construction | | | | Calcium oxide |
| materials. As a construction material, magnesium | | | | Barium oxide |
| oxide wallboards have several attractive | | | | Magnesium sulfide |
| characteristics: fire resistance, moisture resistance, | | | | References |
| mold and mildew resistance, and strength. | | | | ^ O. E. Taurian et al. (1985). "Self-consistent |
| It is used as a reference white color in | | | | electronic structures of MgO and SrO". Solid State |
| colorimetry, owing to its good diffusing and | | | | Communications 55: 351. doi:10.1016 |
| reflectivity properties. It may be smoked onto | | | | 0038-1098(85)90622-2. |
| the surface of an opaque material to form an | | | | ^ Material Safety Data Sheet. Magnesium oxide |
| integrating sphere. | | | | ^ MedlinePlus medicinal use |
| It is used extensively in electrical heating as a | | | | ^ Tatekawa Y, Nakatani K, Ishii H, et al. (1996). |
| component of "CalRod"-styled heating elements. | | | | "Small bowel obstruction caused by a medication |
| There are several mesh sizes available and most | | | | bezoar: report of a case". Surgery today 26 (1): |
| commonly used ones are 40 and 80 mesh per | | | | 6870. doi:10.1007/BF00311997. PMID 8680127. |
| the American Foundry Society. The extensive use | | | | ^ Tellex, Peter A.; Waldron, Jack R. (1955). |
| is due to its high dielectric strength and average | | | | "Reflectance of Magnesium Oxide". JOSA 45 (1): |
| thermal conductivity. MgO is usually crushed and | | | | 19. doi:10.1364/JOSA.45.000019. |
| compacted with minimal airgaps or voids. The | | | | ^ Index of Refraction of Magnesium Oxide |
| electrical heating industry also experimented with | | | | Robert E. Stephens and Irving H. Malitson |
| aluminium oxide, but it is not used anymore. | | | | ^ wipp.energy. |
| Pressed MgO is used as an optical material. It is | | | | |