Can someone tell me the difference between
Discussion
MgCO3 (magnesium carbonate or chalk) and 4Mg CO2Mg(OH)24H2 [all the 2's are meant to be little but can't do that on phone (what's on the ingredients list of the chalk I use for the gym)].
I bought some magnesium carbonate but it's completely different in powder form, much denser?
Don't want to buy loads of chalk blocks either to grind down into powder so buying the right stuff would be handy
I bought some magnesium carbonate but it's completely different in powder form, much denser?
Don't want to buy loads of chalk blocks either to grind down into powder so buying the right stuff would be handy
No idea on the shopping list you gave, but I know a few climbers that buy uncut Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO3) which is dirt cheap, and does the job. You can buy it in bulk.
ETA Magnesium Carbonate is better for gym and climbing type stuff as it's tougher/denser than Calcium Carbonate as you've said. (I think! Or perhaps it's the other way round...)
ETA Magnesium Carbonate is better for gym and climbing type stuff as it's tougher/denser than Calcium Carbonate as you've said. (I think! Or perhaps it's the other way round...)
OllyMo said:
No idea on the shopping list you gave, but I know a few climbers that buy uncut Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO3) which is dirt cheap, and does the job. You can buy it in bulk.
ETA Magnesium Carbonate is better for gym and climbing type stuff as it's tougher/denser than Calcium Carbonate as you've said. (I think! Or perhaps it's the other way round...)
Hah, they're both magnesium carbonate, the longer one says on the packet basic magnesium carbonate. ETA Magnesium Carbonate is better for gym and climbing type stuff as it's tougher/denser than Calcium Carbonate as you've said. (I think! Or perhaps it's the other way round...)
20g fills the cup I use when measuring and when put in 200ml of liquid (for liquid chalk) it goes thick whereas that longer one I put 200g in and it was still runny!
The company is going to send me a sample of magnesium carbonate light and see if that is similar but the stuff I normally buy is from a rock climbing shop.
By "4Mg CO2Mg(OH)24H2" do you mean 4MgCO3. Mg(OH)2. 4H2O?
One of my bags of climbing chalk lists itself as that.
It's basically still chalk, but a slightly different mineral composition due to the inclusion of magnesium hydroxide (the Mg(OH)2 in the formula above) and water. The Mg(OH)2 makes it slightly alkaline (probably not good for your skin), whether it makes any difference to how well it works as a drying agent I'm not sure.
As for why some stuff is MgCO3 and some isn't; it probably depends on where the chalk was mined.
One of my bags of climbing chalk lists itself as that.
It's basically still chalk, but a slightly different mineral composition due to the inclusion of magnesium hydroxide (the Mg(OH)2 in the formula above) and water. The Mg(OH)2 makes it slightly alkaline (probably not good for your skin), whether it makes any difference to how well it works as a drying agent I'm not sure.
As for why some stuff is MgCO3 and some isn't; it probably depends on where the chalk was mined.
Flibble said:
By "4Mg CO2Mg(OH)24H2" do you mean 4MgCO3. Mg(OH)2. 4H2O?
One of my bags of climbing chalk lists itself as that.
It's basically still chalk, but a slightly different mineral composition due to the inclusion of magnesium hydroxide (the Mg(OH)2 in the formula above) and water. The Mg(OH)2 makes it slightly alkaline (probably not good for your skin), whether it makes any difference to how well it works as a drying agent I'm not sure.
As for why some stuff is MgCO3 and some isn't; it probably depends on where the chalk was mined.
Nope 2 not a 3. One of my bags of climbing chalk lists itself as that.
It's basically still chalk, but a slightly different mineral composition due to the inclusion of magnesium hydroxide (the Mg(OH)2 in the formula above) and water. The Mg(OH)2 makes it slightly alkaline (probably not good for your skin), whether it makes any difference to how well it works as a drying agent I'm not sure.
As for why some stuff is MgCO3 and some isn't; it probably depends on where the chalk was mined.
The difference is huge, well when put in liquid chalk.
20g of the block stuff makes 200ml of alcohol go thick.
200g of magnesium carbonate does not :/
Hmm looks like that might be a typo, as magnesium carbonate is MgCO3. A mineral with MgCO2 wouldn't be magnesium carbonate, nor would it be stable enough bag up and sell. 
The block is presumable pure magnesium carbonate, while the stuff you have there is a basic (as in alkaline) hydrated magnesium carbonate mineral.
As for why it doesn't thicken up, not sure. In theory it should act in much the same way as pure magnesium carbonate, both are insoluble in both water and ethanol so they should give a similar result.
EDIT: just did a quick experiment with some DMM chalk, which has the same composition as the Camp stuff you have.
2g of chalk with 2 ml of alcohol gave me chalk. There was so little alcohol all I had was marginally more damp chalk.
Adding more alcohol to give 10 ml of alcohol total gave me a fairly thick paste.
Seems odd that you're getting such different results.
The block is presumable pure magnesium carbonate, while the stuff you have there is a basic (as in alkaline) hydrated magnesium carbonate mineral.
As for why it doesn't thicken up, not sure. In theory it should act in much the same way as pure magnesium carbonate, both are insoluble in both water and ethanol so they should give a similar result.
EDIT: just did a quick experiment with some DMM chalk, which has the same composition as the Camp stuff you have.
2g of chalk with 2 ml of alcohol gave me chalk. There was so little alcohol all I had was marginally more damp chalk.
Adding more alcohol to give 10 ml of alcohol total gave me a fairly thick paste.
Seems odd that you're getting such different results.
Edited by Flibble on Thursday 20th November 23:42
Nope I'm baffled by it.
And your experiment is what happens with the above block, trust me to buy 10kg of the wrong stuff
The company has been great though, I'm waiting for a sample of their magnesium carbonate light I think he said which may be what I'm looking for.
If it is they'll exchange it for free
And your experiment is what happens with the above block, trust me to buy 10kg of the wrong stuff
The company has been great though, I'm waiting for a sample of their magnesium carbonate light I think he said which may be what I'm looking for.
If it is they'll exchange it for free
Edited by smiffy180 on Friday 21st November 00:13
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