Discovered : recognised as an element by Joseph Black of Edinburgh, UK in 1755
Isolated by Sir Humphry Davy in 1808
Origin : The element is named after Magnesia, a district of Thessaly in Greece, where it was first found.
Description :
A silvery white metal that can be made to burn with a bright light and was formerly used in flash bulbs. It is now used in alloys to provide lightweight frames for bicycles, car seats and luggage. The sea contains trillions of tonnes of magnesium, and this is the source of much of the 300,000 tonnes now produced annually. It is an essential element for all living things. Humans take in 250-350 milligrams each day (about 100g a year), and we each have about 20 grams in our bodies.
Image :
Eye of magnesium in the organic molecule of chlorophyll (chemsoc timeline). Click here to see larger version of this image.
