Chemical factories produce magnesia on a massive scale by heating magnesium carbonate. They bake this starting material to extremely high temperatures in giant industrial ovens. This intense heating process drives off carbon dioxide gas and leaves pure magnesia behind.
Magnesia has an incredibly high melting point of nearly 2,852 degrees Celsius. This extreme heat resistance makes it a vital material for building heavy industrial equipment. Factories use thick magnesia bricks to safely line the inside of hot steelmaking furnaces.
The magnesia also plays a surprising and critical role in everyday household electrical appliances. Most common materials usually block both heat and electricity, like wood or plastic. Alternatively, they conduct both heat and electricity very easily, like copper or iron metals.
Magnesia completely breaks this standard rule of chemistry by separating the two properties. It stops dangerous electrical currents from escaping while allowing useful heat to pass perfectly. You can also find a closely related chemical in your home medicine cabinet.
A cloudy liquid mixture of magnesium hydroxide and water is called milk of magnesia. People drink this basic liquid to neutralize extra stomach acid and relieve painful heartburn.