Magnesium (Mg)
"Meet Magnesium, the 'Light-Weight Lifeblood'! This elemental hero powers plants with green magic, keeps your body running like a well-oiled machine, and erupts in dazzling, brilliant light when duty calls!"
A memorable persona to anchor Mg in your mind.
1.738
Grams per cm³
650
Celsius (°C)
173
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
That satisfying fizz in your antacid or the super-strong, super-light frame of your mountain bike or laptop? That's Magnesium making your day better!
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1755
Discovered By
Joseph Black
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from Magnesia, a district of Eastern Thessaly in Greece."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
24.305 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
1090°C
Electron Configuration
[Ne] 3s2
1st Ionization Energy
7.646 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"A sleek, silvery-white metal that's shockingly light to hold and incredibly strong in action."
Did You Know?
Magnesium is the absolute heart of chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants. Without Magnesium, plants can't capture sunlight, and life as we know it would grind to a halt!
Your body is a Magnesium powerhouse! It's involved in over 300 biochemical reactions, from helping your muscles contract and nerves transmit signals to building strong bones and DNA.
This superstar metal is one of the lightest structural metals around, making it a go-to for engineers looking to build super-light, super-strong aircraft, cars, and even phone cases.
Magnesium burns with an intensely bright, white flame that's almost blinding! This fiery talent makes it perfect for fireworks, flares, and even early flash photography.