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Glite Dictionary
magnesium hydroxide

magnesium hydroxide

3.9
A white powder used to stop heartburn and relieve constipation
  • noun
  • /mæɡˈniːziəm haɪˈdrɒksaɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hidróxido de magnesio
  • Magnesium hydroxide is commonly used to relieve symptoms of indigestion and heartburn.

Examples

  • The doctor recommended taking magnesium hydroxide as a mild laxative for occasional constipation.

  • Many antacids contain magnesium hydroxide as an ingredient.

  • Magnesium hydroxide appears as a white powder and is barely soluble in water.

  • The doctor recommended taking magnesium hydroxide for relief.

  • Magnesium hydroxide is commonly used to relieve symptoms of indigestion and heartburn.

  • The doctor recommended taking magnesium hydroxide as a mild laxative for occasional constipation.

  • Many antacids contain magnesium hydroxide as an ingredient.

Synonyms

milk of magnesia
vsmagnesium hydroxide
1 3.5

A white liquid medicine that helps if you cannot poo and eases heartburn

is the powdered crystalline form used for the same medical uses

Surface Forms

magnesium hydroxide singular
magnesium hydroxides plural

Morphology

magnesium + hydroxide

The noun is compositionally built from the element name 'magnesium' and the chemical term 'hydroxide', so a learner who knows both constituents can infer this is a chemical compound (i.e. a magnesium + hydroxide substance). However, the specific form (a white crystalline powder) and especially its medical use as an antacid and laxative are specialized, non-obvious properties not predictable from the constituents alone, so the transparency is only partial.

Etymology

Magnesium hydroxide combines magnesium, a light metal, and hydroxide, a water-loving group of oxygen and hydrogen, so the name shows its parts. Because together they make a white powder that neutralizes stomach acid and draws water into the gut, the term links to its use as an 'antacid' and mild 'laxative'.