Magnesium
Me and My Magnificent Magnesium Self
To start off, here are some basic get to know you facts about me:
- My chemical symbol is Mg
- My birthday was in 1755 (I get it, I'm old)
- My job is a metal
- I have 12 protons, 12 electrons, and 12 neutrons
I have a mere density of 1.738 g/cm3
My melting point is at 1202 degrees F, and my boiling point is 2024.6 degrees F.
I am not black, nor white, but grey, or really a silvery-white.
My structure is thus; three energy levels, and two valence electrons.
I am VERY flammable, and I go up in beautiful white flames;) I am commonly used in pyrotechnics, and bombs.
My friends and I all have two valence electrons, and we have the same reactivity too. We have similar chemical properties as well, so flammability.
Like I said earlier, I burn very easily and it is difficult to extinguish my brilliant white flames. I also tarnish in air forming a thin oxide coating. I am one of the more reactive metals.
I was originally discovered in 1755 by Joseph Black, but I was first isolated in 1808 by Sir Humphrey Davy. So I just say my birthday was in 1755. Just wanted to specify that.
In 1618 a farmer at Epsom in England attempted to give his cows water from a well. They refused to drink the water because of the water's bitter taste. However the farmer noticed that the water seemed to heal scratches and rashes. The fame of Epsom salts spread. Eventually they were recognised to be magnesium sulphate, MgSO4. Black recognized magnesium as an element in 1755. Sir Humphrey Davy used a large battery to pass electricity through salts to isolate magnesium in 1808.
Magnesium is an earth metal, so obviously it is found within the earth's crust. It can also be found in sea water.
Some compounds it can be found in include Magnesium oxide MgO, Magnesium Iodide Mgl2, Magnesium Fluoride MgF2, and Magnesium Chloride MgCl2.
I am most commonly used in pyrotechnics, bombs, photography, flares, etc.
I only have two valence electrons, so there is always space for newbies in my ring.
Interesting Factoids
Magnesium makes up 13% of the earth's matter
I am the third most commonly used structural metal
Humans take in between 250-350 mg of magnesium/me every single day.