Can someone tell me the difference between

Can someone tell me the difference between

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smiffy180

Original Poster:

6,018 posts

151 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
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 smile

smiffy180

Original Poster:

6,018 posts

151 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Why is it in health matters?

I know I mentioned lifting chalk but I'm wanting to know the difference in compounds?

smiffy180

Original Poster:

6,018 posts

151 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
It was in the lounge but where ever is most appropriate (although I wouldn't have said health matters was) smile

smiffy180

Original Poster:

6,018 posts

151 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
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.

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.

smiffy180

Original Poster:

6,018 posts

151 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Bill said:
Why are you mixing it with water?
I didn't state water? biggrin
It's alcohol, essentially.

To make liquid chalk, apply it and it dries onto your hands. Less messy than a block of chalk smile

smiffy180

Original Poster:

6,018 posts

151 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Bill said:
Aha! It all becomes clear. Have you tried a chalk ball?
In a olympic gym yes.
Handed out free there usually smile

trying to make liquid chalk to supply though lol smile

smiffy180

Original Poster:

6,018 posts

151 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Bill said:
It does seem bloody expensive considering the ingredients.
Yes, I can make it at half the cost buying from local shops, never mind bulk buy laugh

smiffy180

Original Poster:

6,018 posts

151 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
quotequote all
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.

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 :/

smiffy180

Original Poster:

6,018 posts

151 months

Friday 21st November 2014
quotequote all
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 laugh

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 smile



Edited by smiffy180 on Friday 21st November 00:13