Magnesium perchlorate hexahydrate is a highly hygroscopic metal hydrate that can be dehydrated to prepare anhydrous magnesium perchlorate.
It can be used as an electrophilic catalyst for non-enzymic reduction of synthetic dihydropyridines. It may also be used in the formation of magnesium ion batteries.
MAGNESIUM PERCHLORATE is a strong oxidizing agent. Decomposes at 185-190°C [Hawley]. Noncombustible but accelerates the burning of combustible materials. If large quantities are involved in the fire or the combustible material is finely divided an explosion may result.
It is dried by heating at 220 °C under vacuum. Magnesium perchlorate is produced by the reaction of magnesium hydroxide and perchloric acid.