What is the main constituent of a struvite crystal?

What is the main constituent of a struvite crystal?

• A. Calcium carbonate
• B. Calcium oxalate
• C. Silica
• D. Magnesium phosphate

Answer: (D)

Struvite crystals are primarily magnesium ammonium phosphate. They form in urine that has become alkaline, often due to bacteria that produce urease and split urea into ammonia. The resulting higher pH causes magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate ions to precipitate as crystals, giving the composition magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate ((NH4)MgPO4·6H2O). This is why magnesium phosphate is the main constituent. Other minerals like calcium carbonate, calcium oxalate, or silica form different crystal types under different conditions and are not characteristic components of struvite.

Struvite crystals are primarily magnesium ammonium phosphate. They form in urine that has become alkaline, often due to bacteria that produce urease and split urea into ammonia. The resulting higher pH causes magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate ions to precipitate as crystals, giving the composition magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate ((NH4)MgPO4·6H2O). This is why magnesium phosphate is the main constituent. Other minerals like calcium carbonate, calcium oxalate, or silica form different crystal types under different conditions and are not characteristic components of struvite.