The dot before the 6, which if we could write it right on these boards, would be in the middle of the line, means there are 6 molecules of water that crystallize with each 1 molecule of MgSO4. The equation you have written is simply a dehydration in which a hydrate is heated to drive off the water, making the anhydrous salt.
MgSO4.6H2O + heat ==> MgSO4 + 6H2O
Most salts crystallize with some water. Most of the time we don't show it when we write the equation.
How do you balance this equation? does the dot before the 6 mean something
MgSO4˙6H2O = MgSO4 + H2O
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