A white compound, MgO; cubic; r.d. 3.58; m.p. 2800°C. It occurs naturally as the mineral periclase and is prepared commercially by thermally decomposing the mineral magnesite:
It has a wide range of uses, including reflective coatings on optical instruments and aircraft windscreens and in semiconductors. Its high melting point makes it useful as a refractory lining in metal and glass furnaces.