Magnesium

Magnesium is the chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element and constitutes about 2% of the Earth's crust by weight, and it is the third most plentiful element dissolved in seawater. This alkaline earth metal is primarily used as an alloying agent to make aluminium-magnesium alloys, sometimes called "magnalium" or "magnelium".

History

The name originates from the Greek word for a district in Thessaly called Magnesia.

Related Topics:
Greek - Thessaly - Magnesia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Joseph Black in England recognized magnesium as being an element in 1755, Sir Humphry Davy electrolytically isolated pure magnesium metal in 1808 from a mix of magnesia and HgO and A. A. B. Bussy prepared it in coherent form in 1831. Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the earth's crust. It is an alkaline earth metal and therefore does not occur uncombined with other elements. It is found in large deposits of magnesite, dolomite, and other minerals.

Related Topics:
Joseph Black - England - 1755 - Humphry Davy - Hg - O - A. A. B. Bussy - 1831 - Alkaline earth metal - Magnesite - Dolomite - Mineral

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~