Magnesium Chloride vs. Magnesium Aspartate: Properties, Uses & Differences

Magnesium aspartate is the magnesium salt of aspartic acid; magnesium chloride is a magnesium-chlorine compound. Both chemicals are used in medical supplements, but magnesium chloride also has wider uses.

Appearance

• Magnesium chloride and magnesium aspartate both appear as a white crystalline powder.

Production

• Magnesium aspartate is made by mixing a mineral salt (magnesium salt) with an amino acid (aspartic acid). Magnesium chloride can be extracted from brine or mined with the solution mining technique.

Chemistry

• Magnesium chloride has the chemical formula MgCl2 (it contains magnesium and chlorine). Magnesium aspartate is more complex, with the formula C8H12MgN2O8 (carbon, hydrogen, magnesium, nitrogen and oxygen).

Hydrates

• Hydrates add H20x to the formula, with X specifying how many oxygen atoms. Usually, hydrates are used in supplements: Magnesium aspartate dihydrate (C8H12MgN2O8.2H20) is used in supplements, as is the magnesium chloride hexahydrate (MgCl2.6H2O).

Uses

• Magnesium aspartate is used to supplement magnesium and to prevent some kidney stones. The medicine is available in liquid or pill form. Among other uses, magnesium chloride is used as a de-icer, in dust control and as a magnesium supplement.