What Is Magnesium Chloride Good For?

Magnesium chloride can be used for a variety of unrelated applications. The white crystalline compound offers significant benefits for medicine, cooking, ice removal, and erosion control.

Medicine

• Doctors prescribe magnesium chloride supplements to individuals with low magnesium levels; it helps the body maintain normal magnesium levels. Also, scientists use magnesium chloride as an anesthetic for cephalopods (octopus, squid, etc).

Cooking

• When used in the preparation of tofu and soy milk, magnesium chloride acts as a coagulant. A small amount of magnesium chloride produces soft tofu whereas a larger amount produces firmer tofu.

De-Icing

• Snow removal trucks dispense magnesium chloride onto roads and parking lots to dissolve ice. It also prevents the formation of new ice.

Erosion Control

• Magnesium chloride prevents soil erosion and dust formation. A coating on the top layer of dry soil prevents particles from rising into the air. This is important at construction sites, where large amounts of dust are kicked up and carried by wind.

Considerations

• Magnesium chloride should not be taken as a supplement if you have kidney disease. Magnesium chloride can also cause corrosion of roads if used as an ice removal tool.