Trimagnesium phosphate
Trimagnesium phosphate describes inorganic compounds with formula Mg32.xH2O. They are magnesium acid salts of phosphoric acid, with varying amounts of water of crystallization: x = 0, 5, 8, 22.
The octahydrate forms upon reaction of stoichiometric quantities of monomagnesium phosphate with magnesium hydroxide.
The octaohydrate is found in nature as the mineral bobierrite.
The anhydrous compound is obtained by heating the hydrates to 400 °C. It is isostructural with cobalt phosphate. The metal ions occupy both octahedral and pentacoordinate sites in a 1:2 ratio.Safety
Magnesium phosphate tribasic is listed on the FDA's generally recognized as safe, or GRAS, list of substances.
