Magnesium hydride

Magnesium hydride
Names
	IUPAC name Magnesium hydride
Identifiers
CAS Number	7693-27-8 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:25107 ;
ChemSpider	16787263 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.028.824
EC Number	231-705-3;
PubChem CID	107663;
UNII	Y93032D743 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/Mg.2H Key: RSHAOIXHUHAZPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N ; InChI=1/Mg.2H/rH2Mg/h1H2 Key: RSHAOIXHUHAZPM-HZAFDXBCAG;
	SMILES [MgH2];
Properties
Chemical formula	MgH2
Molar mass	26.3209 g/mol
Appearance	white crystals
Density	1.45 g/cm3
Melting point	327 °C (621 °F; 600 K) decomposes
Solubility in water	decomposes
Solubility	insoluble in ether
Structure
Crystal structure	tetragonal
Thermochemistry
Heat capacity (C)	35.4 J/mol K
Std molar; entropy (S⦵298)	31.1 J/mol K
Std enthalpy of; formation (ΔfH⦵298)	−75.2 kJ/mol
Gibbs free energy (ΔfG⦵)	−35.9 kJ/mol
Hazards
	Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	pyrophoric
Related compounds
Other cations	Beryllium hydride; Calcium hydride; Strontium hydride; Barium hydride
Related Magnesium hydrides	Magnesium monohydride Mg4H6
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Magnesium hydride is the chemical compound with the molecular formula MgH₂. It contains 7.66% by weight of hydrogen and has been studied as a potential hydrogen storage medium.

For comparison, one cubic meter can contain 45 kg of hydrogen pressurized at 700 atm, 70 kg of liquid hydrogen, or up to 106 kg of hydrogen bound in magnesium hydride.

Magnesium hydride is also investigated for use in thermobaric weapons and incendiary weapons, standalone or as a mixture with a solid oxidizer; China tested a (non-nuclear) "hydrogen bomb" using the substance. It can be also used in emulsion explosives as a source of bubbles and additional fuel. It can be added to improve heat release of aluminized explosive compositions and to improve burn rate of propellants.