What is Magnesium?
Magnesium is a shiny silver or gray metal that is light in weight and strong in structure, and it is the eighth most abundant element in the earth’s crust. It is a mild metallic element that burns when it is in the form of powder and forms a bright white flame.
Also read: Properties and Uses of Lead
Chemical Properties of Magnesium
- Chemical symbol: Mg
- Atomic number: 12
- Atomic weight: 24.305
- Melting point: 650° C
- Boiling point: 1,090° C
- Specific gravity: 1.74 at 20° C
- Oxidation state: +2
Also read: Learn More About Palladium
Facts About Magnesium
- A chemically very active metal.
- Does not react with liquid water at room temperature.
- Non-magnetic like many metals.
- Binds with most non-metallic elements and almost all acids.
- Highly flammable.
- Slightly deformed when exposed to air.
Also read: Stages of Metal Recycling
Common Uses of Magnesium
It can be used as an alternative to aluminum due to the similarity between them.
More than half of the magnesium is used in the manufacture of aluminum alloys.
Magnesium can be used as a desulfurizer in the iron and steel production process.