Magnesium Sulfide Formula: Properties, Synthesis, Structure, Uses

Magnesium sulfide is a white crystalline inorganic compound. Its structural formula is MgS. It is formed by a reaction between Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and magnesium (Mg). However, it can also be synthesized by combining sulfur (S) with magnesium (Mg). Its International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) name is sulfanylidenemagnesium.  It occurs as a component of some slags (Slag is a by-product of smelting ores and used metals), also found in some meteorites and circumstellar envelopes of certainly evolved carbon stars. It is used in the production of steel, as a laboratory reagent and also as a blue-green emitter and photodetector for ultraviolet light (short wavelength). It has several harmful effects. For example- It produces poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas when it comes in contact with moisture. Also, if it comes in contact with eyes or skin, it can damage them.

Key terms: Magnesium sulfide, structural formula, Properties, Harmful effects, hydrogen sulfide, sulfanylidenemagnesium.

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What is Magnesium Sulfide?

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Magnesium sulfide is an inorganic Ionic compound. It is formed when Magnesium (Mg), a metal, reacts with Sulfide (S), a non-metal. Hence, written as MgS.

• Its IUPAC name is sulfanylidenemagnesium. 
• It exists as a white crystalline material that is solid at room temperature. However, it is often encountered in an impure form, a non-crystalline powder that is brown in colour.
• It has a cubic crystal system.

   

Figure 1- Cubic crystal form of MgS and crystalline powder

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Properties of Magnesium Sulfide

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The physical properties of Magnesium sulfide is given in the following table-

Chemical properties
Magnesium Sulfide is a moderately water-soluble. It reacts with water and form hydrogen sulfide and magnesium hydroxide. The reaction involved is given as below-

MgS + 2H₂O = H₂S + Mg(OH)₂

Atomic property

The magnesium sulfide has a cubic crystal structure form. It defines the radius, electron affinity, metallic character, and oxidation potential for atoms.

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Synthesis of Magnesium Sulfide

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The synthesis of Magnesium sulfide is formed by a reaction between hydrogen sulphide and Magnesium (See the reaction below).

H2S + Mg = MgS + H2

However, it can also be synthesized by combining Sulfur with magnesium (See the reaction below).

S + Mg = MgS

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Structural Formula of Magnesium Sulfide (MgS)

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The structural formula of Magnesium sulfide is MgS. It is formed when Magnesium (Mg), a metal, reacts with Sulfide (S), a non-metal. Hence, written as MgS. It forms an ionic bond and can be represented as follows.

Structure of Magnesium sulfide

• The Magnesium, metal cation (Mg+2) has a +2 charge on it. 
• Sulfur is a non-metal anion (S-2) having a -2 charge on it. 
• The charges present on them must be equal and opposite to form an ionic bond.
• Both positive and negative charges cancel out each other and make compound neutral, written as MgS.

The chemical formula of MgS

Occurrence of Magnesium Sulfide-

The occurrence of Magnesium sulfide can be in the following forms-

• It occurs as a component of some slags (Slag is a by-product of smelting ores and used metals.
• It can be found in some meteorites. For example- Niningerite is a magnesium-iron-manganese sulfide mineral that is found in enstatite chondrite meteorites.
• It is also found in the circumstellar envelopes of certainly evolved carbon stars. 

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Uses of Magnesium Sulfide

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Magnesium sulfide has several uses. Some of them are described as follows-

• Industrial uses- It is used in the production of steel through the basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS) process.
• Laboratory uses- It is used as a laboratory reagent.
• Technical uses- It is a wide band-gap direct semiconductor, therefore used as a blue-green emitter and Photodetectors for ultraviolet light (short wavelength).

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Harmful effects of Magnesium Sulfide?

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Magnesium sulphide if not handled carefully, can pose several harmful effects. Some of the effects are as follows-

• If a bulk amount of Magnesium sulfide is heated, then it may catch fire.
• When it comes in contact with moisture it produces hydrogen sulfide gas which is poisonous.
• Its toxicity is acute. 
• If it comes in contact with eyes or skin, can damage them.
• It is corrosive in nature and if mixed in natural water systems like ponds, rivers etc, can cause damage to aquatic organisms.

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Things to Remember

• Magnesium sulfide (MgS) is formed when Magnesium (Mg), a metal, reacts with Sulfide (S), a non-metal. 
• Its structural formula is MgS. Its IUPAC name is sulfanylidenemagnesium. 
• It exists as a white Crystalline material that is solid at room temperature. 
• However, it is often encountered in an impure form, a non-crystalline powder that is brown in colour.
• It is formed by a reaction between hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and magnesium (Mg). 

The reaction involved is-H₂S + Mg = MgS + H₂. 

• It occurs as a component of some slags, found in some meteorites. 
• It is used in the production of steel, as a laboratory reagent and as a blue-green emitter and photodetector for ultraviolet light (short wavelength). 
• If not handled carefully it can cause several harmful effects. For the example-If a bulk amount of Magnesium, sulfide is heated, then it may catch fire. 

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