Magnesium

chemical element, symbol Mg and atomic number 12

Magnesium ( /mæɡˈniːziəm/ mag-NEE-zee-əm) is a chemical element. It has the symbol Mg, atomic number 12 and common oxidation state +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust. It makes up 2% of the mass of the crust. It is the ninth most common element in the known universe.[8] This is because it is easily built up in supernova stars by addition of three helium nuclei to carbon (which in turn is made from three helium nuclei). Magnesium ion's high solubility in water helps ensure that it is the third most abundant element dissolved in seawater.[9]

Magnesium, 00Mg
Magnesium
Pronunciation/mæɡˈnziəm/ (mag-NEE-zee-əm)
Appearanceshiny grey solid
Standard atomic weight Ar°(Mg)
[24.30424.307][1]
Magnesium in the periodic table
Hydrogen Helium
Lithium Beryllium Boron Carbon Nitrogen Oxygen Fluorine Neon
Sodium Magnesium Aluminium Silicon Phosphorus Sulfur Chlorine Argon
Potassium Calcium Scandium Titanium Vanadium Chromium Manganese Iron Cobalt Nickel Copper Zinc Gallium Germanium Arsenic Selenium Bromine Krypton
Rubidium Strontium Yttrium Zirconium Niobium Molybdenum Technetium Ruthenium Rhodium Palladium Silver Cadmium Indium Tin Antimony Tellurium Iodine Xenon
Caesium Barium Lanthanum Cerium Praseodymium Neodymium Promethium Samarium Europium Gadolinium Terbium Dysprosium Holmium Erbium Thulium Ytterbium Lutetium Hafnium Tantalum Tungsten Rhenium Osmium Iridium Platinum Gold Mercury (element) Thallium Lead Bismuth Polonium Astatine Radon
Francium Radium Actinium Thorium Protactinium Uranium Neptunium Plutonium Americium Curium Berkelium Californium Einsteinium Fermium Mendelevium Nobelium Lawrencium Rutherfordium Dubnium Seaborgium Bohrium Hassium Meitnerium Darmstadtium Roentgenium Copernicium Nihonium Flerovium Moscovium Livermorium Tennessine Oganesson
Be

Mg

Ca
sodiummagnesiumaluminium
Groupgroup 2 (alkaline earth metals)
Periodperiod 3
Block  s-block
Electron configuration[Ne] 3s2
Electrons per shell2, 8, 2
Physical properties
Phase at STPsolid
Melting point923 K ​(650 °C, ​1202 °F)
Boiling point1363 K ​(1091 °C, ​1994 °F)
Density (near r.t.)1.738 g/cm3
when liquid (at m.p.)1.584 g/cm3
Heat of fusion8.48 kJ/mol
Heat of vaporization128 kJ/mol
Molar heat capacity24.869 J/(mol·K)
Vapor pressure
P (Pa) 1 10 100 1 k 10 k 100 k
at T (K) 701 773 861 971 1132 1361
Atomic properties
Oxidation states0,[2] +1,[3] +2 (a strongly basic oxide)
ElectronegativityPauling scale: 1.31
Ionization energies
  • 1st: 737.7 kJ/mol
  • 2nd: 1450.7 kJ/mol
  • 3rd: 7732.7 kJ/mol
  • (more)
Atomic radiusempirical: 160 pm
Covalent radius141±7 pm
Van der Waals radius173 pm
Color lines in a spectral range
Spectral lines of magnesium
Other properties
Natural occurrenceprimordial
Crystal structurehexagonal close-packed (hcp)
Hexagonal close packed crystal structure for magnesium
Speed of sound thin rod4940 m/s (at r.t.) (annealed)
Thermal expansion24.8 µm/(m⋅K) (at 25 °C)
Thermal conductivity156 W/(m⋅K)
Electrical resistivity43.9 nΩ⋅m (at 20 °C)
Magnetic orderingparamagnetic
Molar magnetic susceptibility+13.1·10−6 cm3/mol (298 K)[4]
Young's modulus45 GPa
Shear modulus17 GPa
Bulk modulus35.4[5] GPa
Poisson ratio0.290
Mohs hardness1–2.5
Brinell hardness44–260 MPa
CAS Number7439-95-4
History
Namingafter Magnesia, Greece
DiscoveryJoseph Black (1755)
First isolationHumphry Davy (1808)
Isotopes of magnesium
Main isotopes[6] Decay
abun­dance half-life (t1/2) mode pro­duct
24Mg 79% stable
25Mg 10% stable
26Mg 11% stable
 Category: Magnesium
| references
Magnesium

Magnesium is the 11th most abundant element by mass in the human body. Its ions are essential to all living cells. The ions play a major role in manipulating important biological polyphosphate compounds like ATP, DNA, and RNA. Hundreds of enzymes thus require magnesium ions to function. Magnesium is also the metallic ion at the center of chlorophyll. It is a common additive to fertilizers.[10] Magnesium ions are sour to the taste, and in low concentrations help to impart a natural tartness to fresh mineral waters.

The free element (metal) is not found naturally on Earth, as it is highly reactive (though once produced, it is coated in a thin layer of oxide (see passivation), which partly masks this reactivity). The free metal burns with a brilliant white light, making it a useful ingredient in flares. The metal is now mainly obtained by electrolysis of magnesium salts obtained from brine.

Commercially, the main use for the metal is as an alloying agent to make aluminium-magnesium alloys, sometimes called "magnalium" or "magnelium". Since magnesium is less dense than aluminium, these alloys are prized for their relative lightness and strength.

Magnesium is used in fireworks to make a brilliant bright light. Another use is to mix it with other metals to make it strong, lightweight alloys such as those used to make bicycle frames.

Magnesium compounds are used medicinally as common laxatives, antacids (i.e. milk of magnesia), and where stabilization of abnormal nerve excitation and blood vessel spasm is required (that is, to treat eclampsia).

Magnesium is used in electronic devices, including: mobile phones, laptop computers, cameras, and other electronic components. Magnesium's low weight, good mechanical and electrical properties are good for these uses.

Magnesium reacted with an alkyl halide gives a Gringard reagent, which is a very useful tool for preparing alcohols.

Magnesium is also used in incendiary bombs, which are bombs that blow up and spread fire everywhere.

Alloys

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Magnesium is brittle, and fractures along shear bands when its thickness is reduced by only 10% by cold rolling (top). However, after alloying Mg with 1% Al and 0.1% Ca, its thickness could be reduced by 54% using the same process (bottom).

As of 2013, magnesium alloys was used less than one million tonnes per year. This was a lot less than aluminium alloys. In the same year, 50 million tonnes of aluminium alloys were used. Using magnesium alloys have limited. This is because magnesium alloys can corrode,[11] creep at high temperatures, and combust.[12]

Compounds

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Magnesium can makes many different compound. They are important in industry and biology. Some common magnesium compounds are magnesium carbonate, magnesium chloride, magnesium citrate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (Epsom salts).[13][14]

Isotopes

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Magnesium has three stable isotopes. These isotopes are 24
Mg
, 25
Mg
and 26
Mg
. All of these isotopes are very common in nature. About 79% of Mg is 24
Mg
. The isotope 28
Mg
is radioactive. In the 1950s to 1970s, many nuclear power plants made 28
Mg
for experiments. This isotope has a fairly short half-life of 21 hours.

Safety

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Magnesium burns at a very high temperature, and cannot be put out with water or an ordinary fire extinguisher. It must be extinguished with a class D fire extinguisher. Burning magnesium also produces ultraviolet radiation, which can harm the eyes if it is viewed directly.

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References

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  1. "Standard Atomic Weights: Magnesium". CIAAW. 2011.
  2. Mg(0) has been synthesized in a compound containing a Na2Mg22+ cluster coordinated to a bulky organic ligand; see Rösch, B.; Gentner, T. X.; Eyselein, J.; Langer, J.; Elsen, H.; Li, W.; Harder, S. (2021). "Strongly reducing magnesium(0) complexes". Nature. 592 (7856): 717–721. Bibcode:2021Natur.592..717R. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03401-w. PMID 33911274. S2CID 233447380
  3. Bernath, P. F.; Black, J. H. & Brault, J. W. (1985). "The spectrum of magnesium hydride" (PDF). Astrophysical Journal. 298: 375. Bibcode:1985ApJ...298..375B. doi:10.1086/163620.. See also Low valent magnesium compounds.
  4. Weast, Robert (1984). CRC, Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Boca Raton, Florida: Chemical Rubber Company Publishing. pp. E110. ISBN 0-8493-0464-4.
  5. K. A. Gschneider, Solid State Phys. 16, 308 (1964)
  6. Kondev, F. G.; Wang, M.; Huang, W. J.; Naimi, S.; Audi, G. (2021). "The NUBASE2020 evaluation of nuclear properties" (PDF). Chinese Physics C. 45 (3): 030001. doi:10.1088/1674-1137/abddae.
  7. Bernath, P. F.; Black, J. H.; Brault, J. W. (1985). "The spectrum of magnesium hydride" (PDF). Astrophysical Journal. 298: 375. Bibcode:1985ApJ...298..375B. doi:10.1086/163620.
  8. Ash, Russell (2005). The Top 10 of Everything 2006: The Ultimate Book of Lists. Dk Pub. ISBN 0756613213. Archived from the original on 2010-02-10. Retrieved 2011-09-26..
  9. Anthoni, J Floor (2006). "The chemical composition of seawater".
  10. "Magnesium in health".
  11. Makar, G. L.; Kruger, J. (1993). "Corrosion of magnesium". International Materials Reviews. 38 (3): 138–153. Bibcode:1993IMRv...38..138M. doi:10.1179/imr.1993.38.3.138.
  12. Dodson, Brian (29 August 2013). "Stainless magnesium breakthrough bodes well for manufacturing industries". Gizmag.com. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  13. "8 Types of magnesium and their benefits". www.medicalnewstoday.com. 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  14. "Chemistry of Magnesium (Z=12)". Chemistry LibreTexts. 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2024-05-04.