Manganese(II) sulfate is the divalent manganese salt of sulfuric acid. Its appearance changes depending on the content of bound water (water of crystallization), but it is always a highly water-soluble salt.

• Appearance and Color: In the anhydrous form, it is a white powder. The common forms with water of crystallization, such as the monohydrate or tetrahydrate, are characteristically colored pale pink to salmon-red.

• Solubility and $\text{pH}$ Value: It dissolves excellently in water. The resulting aqueous solution reacts slightly acidic (low $\text{pH}$ value).

• Significance: Manganese is an essential trace element for organisms. Therefore, the main application of the salt is where manganese is required in a bioavailable form.

Areas of Application

• Agriculture and Fertilizers: It is the most important source of the trace element manganese in agriculture. It is used for the treatment and prevention of deficiency symptoms (e.g., gray speck disease in cereals), both via the soil and as a foliar fertilizer.

• Feed Supplements: It is an important additive in animal nutrition to meet the manganese requirements of livestock.

• Chemistry and Industry: It serves as a starting material for the production of other manganese compounds and is used as a coloring agent (e.g., in porcelain painting) and in battery manufacturing (cathode material).