[ noun ] a white solid mineral that occurs naturally as periclase; a source of magnesium <noun.substance>
Magnesia \Mag*ne"si*a\ (?; 277), n. [L. Magnesia, fem. of Magnesius of the country Magnesia, Gr. h` Magnhsi`a li`qos a magnet. Cf. {Magnet}.] (Chem.) A light earthy white substance, consisting of magnesium oxide ({MgO}), and obtained by heating magnesium hydrate or carbonate, or by burning magnesium. It has a slightly alkaline reaction, and is used in medicine as a mild antacid laxative. See {Magnesium}.
{Magnesia alba} [L.] (Med. Chem.), a bulky white amorphous substance, consisting of a hydrous basic carbonate of magnesium, and used as a mild cathartic.
Last week Tateho Chemical Industries, a medium-sized maker of insulating materials and electrofused magnesia for heaters, said it had 20 billion yen ($142 million) in losses from such trading.