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Magnesium sulfide

physical science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Magnesium sulfide is a special material. It is often a white crystal. Sometimes it looks like brown powder. You can make it by mixing magnesium with sulfur. It can also form with hydrogen sulfide.

This material helps make iron. Making steel starts by removing sulfur from iron. Workers add magnesium powder to hot iron. This makes magnesium sulfide. The new material floats on the liquid iron. Then, workers can take it away.

Scientists use this material in many ways. It is a semiconductor. This means it can help move power. It can also act as a blue-green light source. It can even detect ultraviolet light.

This stuff can be found in space. It is part of a mineral called niningerite. This mineral is found in some meteorites. You can also find it near old carbon stars.

Be careful with this material. It reacts with water. When it touches moisture, it lets out hydrogen sulfide. This is a gas that forms during the change.

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