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Epsom Salt: Magnesian Limestone Digested in Dilute Sulphuric Acid, Ure 1839
Chemicalinterest at en.wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons) · Public domain
Charlie

Created by

Charlie

14. October 2026DE
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Epsom Salt: Magnesian Limestone Digested in Dilute Sulphuric Acid, Ure 1839

Epsom salt, sulphate of magnesia, was first got from the springs at Epsom in 1695. Andrew Ure (1839): the simple way is to digest magnesian limestone in dilute sulphuric acid; the lime falls out as sulphate of lime and the clear liquid is boiled down to crystals. Gloves and goggles for the acid. The picture: Epsom salt crystals.
Beginner
Three days

Instructions

1

Grind

Break and grind the magnesian limestone to a coarse powder and weigh it.

Materials for this step:

Dolomite (Magnesian Limestone)Dolomite (Magnesian Limestone)1 kg

Tools needed:

Mortar and PestleMortar and Pestle
Fine Mesh SieveFine Mesh Sieve
Balance ScaleBalance Scale
Dust MaskDust Mask
2

Digest in acid

In a wooden tub, stir the powder into dilute sulphuric acid a little at a time. Add acid until fresh acid no longer fizzes on the stone (ours), and leave it to stand.

Materials for this step:

Dilute Sulfuric AcidDilute Sulfuric Acid4 liters

Tools needed:

Wooden TubWooden Tub
Glass Stirring RodGlass Stirring Rod
Chemical Splash GogglesChemical Splash Goggles
Rubber GlovesRubber Gloves
3

Settle and pour off

Let the white sulphate of lime settle to the bottom, then pour the clear liquid off it.

Tools needed:

Wooden TubWooden Tub
Large Cooking PotLarge Cooking Pot
Chemical Splash GogglesChemical Splash Goggles
Rubber GlovesRubber Gloves
4

Crystallise

Boil the clear liquid down (step 5) and leave it to cool: the salt forms in four-sided prisms. Drain, dry and keep it in a closed jar.

Tools needed:

Large Cooking PotLarge Cooking Pot
FirewoodFirewood
Evaporating DishEvaporating Dish
Glass JarGlass Jar
Chemical Splash GogglesChemical Splash Goggles
Rubber GlovesRubber Gloves
5

Water for crystallising

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Materials

2

Tools Required

12

This blueprint makes

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Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt)

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