How do you name the foilowing compound: #MgSO_4 * 7H_2O#?

1 Answer
Jan 27, 2017

#"Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate......."#

Explanation:

Anhydrous magnesium sulfate, #MgSO_4# (aka in the lab as #"magsulf"#) is commonly used as a drying agent in phase extractions. It has next to no solubility in organic phases such as ether and methylene chloride. Why should this be important?