Magnesium chloride is the name for the chemical compounds with the formulas mgcl2. These salts are typical ionic halides, being highly soluble in water. The hydrated magnesium chloride can be extracted from brine or sea water. Anhydrous magnesium chloride is the principal precursor to magnesium metal, which is produced on a large scale.

These laboratory chemicals can be extracted from brine or seawater and is a commonly used source of magnesium metal. This textile chemicals is used in a wide variety of applications including the manufacturing of textiles, papers etc. This element magnesium is an important coagulant effective in the preparation of tofu from soymilk.

Magnesium chloride is an important coagulant used in the preparation of tofu from soy milk. In some of countries, it is sold as nigari, a white powder produced from seawater after sodium chloride is removed and water is evaporated. Nigari mostly consist of magnesium chloride with some magnesium sulfate and other trace elements. Some countries have started using this chemical compound instead of rock salt and sand on the highways as a de-icer or anti-icer. Liquid magnesium chloride is sprayed on dry pavements prior to precipitation or wet pavements prior to freezing temperature in winter months to prevent snow and ice from adhering and bonding to the roadway.

Magnesium chloride is used for a variety of other applications besides the production of magnesium: the manufacture of textiles, paper, fireproofing agents, cements and refrigeration brine, and dust and erosion control. Mixed with hydrated magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride forms a hard material called sorel cement. Magnesium chloride is also used as a reaction component in polymerase chain reaction, a procedure used to amplify dna fragments.

Road departments and private industry may apply liquid or powdered magnesium chloride to control dust and erosion on unimproved (dirt or gravel) roads and dusty job sites such as quarries. Its hygroscopy makes it absorb moisture from the air, controlling the number of small particles which become airborne. Similarly, owners of indoor arenas (e.G. For horse riding) may apply magnesium chloride to sand or other floor materials to control dust.

Magnesium chloride has shown promise as a storage material for hydrogen. Ammonia, which is rich in hydrogen atoms, is used as an intermediate storage material. Ammonia can be effectively absorbed to solid magnesium chloride, forming mg(nh3)6cl2. Ammonia is released by mild heat, and is then passed through a catalyst to give hydrogen gas.