MgSiO3
|mag-ne-si-um-sil-i-cate|
🇺🇸
/mæɡˈniːziəm ˈsɪlɪkeɪt/
🇬🇧
/mæɡˈniːzɪəm ˈsɪlɪkeɪt/
magnesium silicate compound
Etymology
'MgSiO3' originates from modern chemical notation, using the element symbols 'Mg' (magnesium), 'Si' (silicon) and 'O' (oxygen) with the numeral '3' indicating three oxygen atoms.
'MgSiO3' corresponds to historically used systematic or descriptive names such as 'magnesium metasilicate' and to the mineral name 'enstatite'; the condensed formula notation developed in the 19th century (notably through the work of chemists like Berzelius) and replaced longer descriptive names.
Initially the substance was referred to by mineral or descriptive names (for example 'magnesium metasilicate'); over time the concise chemical formula 'MgSiO3' came to be used to denote the exact elemental composition.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a chemical compound with the formula MgSiO3 composed of magnesium, silicon and oxygen; commonly called magnesium silicate or magnesium metasilicate. As a mineral species it occurs as enstatite (a pyroxene).
MgSiO3 is a common component of the Earth's mantle and of many meteorites.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/30 19:58