MgI2

Magnesium iodide · Magnesium diiodide

Magnesium iodide is a stable, insulating inorganic salt frequently utilized as a catalyst and reagent in complex organic synthesis.

IMg
Crystal structure of MgI2
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Magnesium iodide

Magnesium iodide is a thermodynamically stable halide compound that functions as a wide-band-gap insulator. Its chemical behavior is defined by the high electronegativity of iodine paired with the alkaline earth metal magnesium, resulting in a compound that is well-suited for specialized chemical reactions. The material is characterized by significant structural diversity, with numerous reported configurations across scientific databases, reflecting its versatility in solid-state chemistry. It serves as a critical reagent in organic synthesis, particularly in the formation of carbon-carbon bonds and various functional group transformations. Its role as a Lewis acid makes it an essential component in pharmaceutical manufacturing and the development of fine chemicals where precise catalytic control is required.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Magnesium iodide, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

3.62 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

27
3 databases, 12 space groups
Uses

Applications

Where Magnesium iodide is used.

Organic synthesisPharmaceutical manufacturingLewis acid catalysisChemical reagent
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Magnesium iodide, answered from cross-validated data.

What is MgI2?

Magnesium iodide is a stable, insulating inorganic salt frequently utilized as a catalyst and reagent in complex organic synthesis.

More questions
What is MgI2 used for?
Magnesium iodide (MgI2) is used in organic synthesis, pharmaceutical manufacturing, lewis acid catalysis, and chemical reagent.
What is the band gap of MgI2?
Magnesium iodide (MgI2) has a DFT-computed band gap of 3.62 eV across 27 reported structures.
Is MgI2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a wide band gap up to 3.62 eV it is an insulator / wide-band-gap material.
Is MgI2 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Magnesium iodide (MgI2) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of MgI2 are known?
27 structures of MgI2 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 12 distinct space groups.
What elements does MgI2 contain?
Magnesium iodide (MgI2) contains I and Mg (2 elements).
Where does the data for MgI2 come from?
MgI2 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a stable halide, magnesium iodide represents a fundamental example of alkaline earth metal iodides. It is distinguished by its insulating electronic nature and its reliability as a reagent, positioning it as a cornerstone compound for laboratory-scale synthetic applications where stability and reactivity must be carefully balanced.

Data sources & attribution
  • latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform

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