Definition

Noun: A chemical compound with the formula Mg(HCO₃)₂. It is a salt formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water containing magnesium minerals, and it is a major cause of temporary water hardness.

Usage

Magnesium bicarbonate is used specifically to refer to the dissolved compound in water chemistry. It is not typically used in everyday conversation but is a technical term in geology, environmental science, and water treatment. - It exists primarily in aqueous solution and decomposes upon heating to form solid magnesium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and water.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The presence of magnesium bicarbonate in the groundwater leads to scale formation in pipes and appliances.
  • When water containing magnesium bicarbonate is boiled, it leaves behind a precipitate of magnesium carbonate.
  • Temporary hardness is often due to dissolved magnesium bicarbonate and calcium bicarbonate.

Advanced Usage

• "To precipitate magnesium bicarbonate": Refers to the process of causing the dissolved compound to come out of solution, typically as a solid carbonate.
  • Heating the water will precipitate the magnesium bicarbonate as limescale.

Variants and Related Words

• Bicarbonate (n): An anion (HCO₃⁻) or a salt containing it.
• Magnesium carbonate (n): The solid compound (MgCO₃) formed when magnesium bicarbonate decomposes.
• Temporary hardness (n): A type of water hardness caused by dissolved bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium, which can be removed by boiling.

Synonyms

• Mg(HCO₃)₂ (n): The chemical formula for magnesium bicarbonate.

Related Phrases

• "In solution as magnesium bicarbonate": Describes the state of the compound being dissolved in water.
  • The magnesium ions are present in solution as magnesium bicarbonate.

Noun

1. a bicarbonate that is a major cause of hard water