{"id":23,"date":"2020-04-08T14:56:27","date_gmt":"2020-04-08T14:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/?page_id=23"},"modified":"2023-08-16T11:08:13","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T11:08:13","slug":"magnesium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/magnesium\/","title":{"rendered":"Magnesium (Mg)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Magnesium is a chemical element with the atomic number 12 in the periodic table. Born in the Universe from supernovas of aged stars, the occurrence of this element amounts to 2.5% of Earth\u2019s crust, mainly as a part of the magnesium oxide compound. Magnesium is also found in Earth’s mantle. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a member of the alkaline earth metals<\/a> family of the periodic table, this vitally important element for all life on Earth has two valence electrons. Being included in the electrolyte balance of cells, magnesium is one of the essential elements that have an extremely important role in the health of our body and brain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chemical and Physical Properties of Magnesium<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Property<\/strong><\/td>Value<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Symbol<\/td>Mg<\/td><\/tr>
Name<\/td>Magnesium<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic number<\/td>12<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic weight (mass)<\/td>24.305 g.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
Group<\/td>2<\/td><\/tr>
Period<\/td>3<\/td><\/tr>
Color<\/td>Silvery-gray metal<\/td><\/tr>
Physical state<\/td>Solid at room temperature<\/td><\/tr>
Half-life<\/td>From less than 5(3) picoseconds to 20.915 hours<\/td><\/tr>
Electronegativity<\/td>1.2<\/td><\/tr>
Density<\/td>1.74 g.cm-3<\/td><\/tr>
Melting point<\/td>650\u00b0C, 1202\u00b0F, 923 K<\/td><\/tr>
Boiling point<\/td>1090\u00b0C, 1994\u00b0F, 1363 K<\/td><\/tr>
Ionic radius<\/td>0.065 nm<\/td><\/tr>
Isotopes<\/td>21<\/td><\/tr>
Most characteristic isotope<\/td>24Mg, 25Mg, 26Mg<\/td><\/tr>
Electronic shell<\/td>[Ne] 3s2<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the first ionization<\/td>737.5 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the second ionization<\/td>1450 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
Discovery date<\/td>In 1755 by Joseph Black<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Magnesium is the second lightest member of the alkaline earth metals family of the periodic table. Classified under the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, atomic mass of 24.305 g.mol<\/span>-1<\/span>, and electron configuration [Ne<\/a>] 3s<\/span>2<\/span>, magnesium is a very soft, ductile, and lightweight metal. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It reaches its boiling point at 1090\u00b0C, 1994\u00b0F, 1363 K, while the melting point is achieved at 650\u00b0C, 1202\u00b0F, 923 K. In addition, this chemical element has an electronegativity of 1.2 according to Pauling, whereas the atomic radius according to van der Waals is 0.16 nm. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This s-block element has a hexagonal close-packed crystal structure and two electrons in the outermost electron shell. Being a highly reactive element, magnesium can be <\/span>passivated<\/span><\/a> by a thin layer of oxide that forms on the surface of the magnesium metal when it\u2019s exposed to air. The resulting tarnish gives a dull appearance to the metal instead of the characteristic silvery luster but adds to the strong anti-corrosive properties of this element. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magnesium burns with a brilliant white light. The flames of magnesium cannot be extinguished with water. On the contrary, adding H2O to burning magnesium creates a more volatile reaction with a bigger flare-up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Was Magnesium Discovered?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Magnesium and some of its beneficial properties regarding health were known to people since ancient times. The first evidence of magnesium\u2019s practical application leads to the prefecture of Magnesia, Greece, where the alchemists of the time were widely using a form of magnesium carbonate (Mg(CO)<\/span>3<\/span>) known as <\/span>magnesia alba<\/span><\/i> (or: white magnesia) for medicinal purposes. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since magnesium frequently occurs in mineral ores that contain calcium, for a long time it was thought that calcium and magnesium are the same substance. This triggered the curiosity of the Scottish chemist Joseph Black (1728 – 1799). Thus, in 1755, this professor of Anatomy and Chemistry at the University of Glasgow attempted an experiment to confirm his belief that the magnesia alba (magnesium carbonate) is a compound of \u201c<\/span>a strange new earth element and a fixed air<\/span><\/a>\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his revolutionary chemical trial, Black tried to heat magnesite and limestone ores, which helped him distinguish magnesia (magnesium oxide, MgO) from lime (calcium oxide, CaO). Based upon the resulting scientific evidence, this Glasgow chemist proposed the existence of the new chemical element magnesium.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Contribution of Sir Humphry Davy (1778 – 1829)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1792, the Hungarian chemist Antal Ruprecht (1748-1818) succeeded in producing the first impure form of the <\/span>magnesium metal by heating magnesia (magnesium oxide, MgO) with charcoal. Ruprecht believed that the alkaline earth metals were compounds, not elements. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This claim of the Hungarian chemist was confirmed by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808 when he isolated the first pure elemental form of magnesium by the method of electrolysis. To achieve this, Sir Davy mixed a paste made of moist magnesium oxide and red mercury<\/a> oxide. He also used a piece of mercury metal as a negative electrode and platinum <\/a>as a positive electrode. The electricity that was conducted through the paste formed a magnesium-mercury amalgam. Then, Sir Davy heated the amalgam to remove the mercury which resulted in the pure elemental form of magnesium.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Did Magnesium Get Its Name?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sir Humphry Davy\u2019s first choice of a name for element 12 was \u2018<\/span>magnium<\/span><\/i>\u2019, but eventually he changed his mind and the name of the new element was changed to the currently known \u2018magnesium\u2019, after Greek region <\/span>Magnesia. <\/span><\/i>Namely, this district in Greece was considered to be the location where magnesium was first obtained by the ancient civilizations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where Can You Find Magnesium?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite being the seventh most abundant chemical element on our Planet, magnesium does not occur naturally in its free form. As a result of magnesium\u2019s high reactivity, this mineral typically occurs as part of the mineral compounds, such as mineral rock formations (dolomite, magnetite, olivine, and serpentine), the underground brines, the seawaters, as well as in the salty layers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For commercial purposes, nowadays magnesium is mostly obtained from the mineral compounds magnesite (MgCO3), brucite (Mg (OH)2), magnesium chloride enriched brine, and seawater. The largest magnesium ore deposits in the world are located in China, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Greece, Turkey, and the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Magnesium in Everyday Life<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Magnesium is a vitally important natural element for all life forms. By participating in the metabolic processes, this mineral contributes to the production of energy in all live systems of our Planet. It also has several other highly beneficial applications:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n