Magnesium

Magnesium is a brilliant white metal, which is relatively soft. It is one of the more abundant elements, there being 23000 ppm in the earth’s crust. As a powder, magnesium is extremely reactive, but as a solid it oxidises slowly in air and reacts slowly in water. It does not occur naturally, but is found in combination with other elements in minerals such as magnesite (MgCO₃, primarily) and dolomite (the double carbonate of magnesium and calcium). As with other elements in groups 1 and 2 of the periodic table, it can be produced by electrolysis of the molten halide. Applications of magnesium include its use as a deoxidiser for copper, brass and nickel alloys and it is also added to several aluminium base alloys. It is the basis of strong, light alloys used in the aircraft and automobile industries (e.g. in engine assemblies). Alloys with zirconium and thorium have also been investigated for their use in aircraft manufacture. Pure magnesium can also be used as a sacrificial electrode to protect other metals.

Symbol

Mg

Discovered

Recognised in 1755 by Joseph Black in Edinburgh, Scotland, and isolated by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808 in London.

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Atomic number	12		Clip
Atomic / Molecular Weight	24.305	gmol-1	Clip
Lattice constant	321	fm	Clip
Tensile strength	6e7 to 1.9e8	Nm-2	Clip
Youngs modulus	41000000000	Nm-2	Clip
Poissons ratio	0.35		Clip
Linear expansivity	0.0000248	K-1	Clip
Specific heat capacity	1030	Jkg-1K-1	Clip
Thermal conductivity	150	Wm-1K-1	Clip
Acoustic wave velocity (longitudinal bulk waves)	5823	ms-1	Clip
Acoustic wave velocity (Irrotational waves)	5082	ms-1	Clip
Acoustic wave velocity (Shear waves)	3163	ms-1	Clip
Acoustic wave velocity (Rayleigh waves)	2930	ms-1	Clip
Bulk Modulus of Rigidity	44700000000	Nm-2	Clip
Electromotive Series	2.4	V	Clip

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See also: Magnesium Fluoride, Magnesium Oxide, Periodic Table.