Originally Posted by
Looigi
Unless it's an element, everything is an actual chemical compound.
All right, being a pedant myself I accept your admonishment. What I meant was that it is a
specific chemical compound, not a generic term for absorbant, slippery, white powder, which is how it gets used colloquially.
Originally Posted by Al1943
Talc is a naturally occurring hydrous magnesium silicate mineral. I don't know of any reason it should be unhealthy unless inhaled in large quantities.
NIOSH says it's mostly a skin and eye irritant, but in large quantities can affect heart and lungs. Didn't mean to alarm anyone.