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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Magnesium - Mg

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Magnesium is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Magnesium. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one's studies.

Magnesium Menu

• Magnesium Page One
  • Overview of Magnesium
  • Magnesium's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Magnesium
  • Chemical Properties of Magnesium
  • Physical Properties of Magnesium
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Magnesium Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Magnesium Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Magnesium

Overview of Magnesium

• Atomic Number: 12
• Group: 2
• Period: 3
• Series: Alkali Earth Metals

Magnesium's Name in Other Languages

• Latin: Magnesium
• Czech: Hořčík
• Croatian: Magnezij
• French: Magnésium
• German: Magnesium - r
• Italian: Magnesio
• Norwegian: Magnesium
• Portuguese: Magnésio
• Russian: Магний
• Spanish: Magnesio
• Swedish: Magnesium

Atomic Structure of Magnesium

• Atomic Radius: 1.72Å
• Atomic Volume: 13.97cm³/mol
• Covalent Radius: 1.36Å
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture)σ_a/barns: 0.063
• Crystal Structure: Hexagonal

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s²p⁶ 3s²

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,8,2

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 0.72Å
• Filling Orbital: 3s²
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 12
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 12
• Number of Protons: 12
• Oxidation States: 2
• Valence Electrons: 3s²

  Electron Dot Model
  

Chemical Properties of Magnesium

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 0.45341g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function: 3.66eV
• Electronegativity: 1.31 (Pauling); 1.23 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: 8.954kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:

• Ionization Potential
  • First: 7.646
  • Second: 15.035
  • Third: 80.143
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 40

Physical Properties of Magnesium

• Atomic Mass Average: 24.305
• Boiling Point: 1363K 1090°C 1994°F
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K^-1: 26.1E^-6
• Conductivity

  Electrical: 0.226 10⁶/cm Ω
  Thermal: 1.56 W/cmK

• Density: 1.738g/cc @ 300K
• Description:

  Grayish-white metal. Reacts with hot water and burns in air when ignited.

• Elastic Modulus:
  • Bulk: 35.6/GPa
  • Rigidity: 17.3/GPa
  • Youngs: 44.7/GPa
• Enthalpy of Atomization: 148.5 kJ/mole @ 25°C
• Enthalpy of Fusion: 8.95 kJ/mole
• Enthalpy of Vaporization: 128.7 kJ/mole
• Flammablity Class:
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Hardness Scale
  • Brinell: 260 MN m^-2
  • Mohs: 2.5
• Heat of Vaporization: 127.4kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 922K 649°C 1200°F
• Molar Volume: 13.97 cm³/mole
• Optical Reflectivity: 74%
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat: 1.02J/gK
• Vapor Pressure = 361Pa@649°C

Regulatory / Health

• CAS Number
  • 7439-95-4
• OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • No limits set by OSHA
• OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • No limits set by OSHA
• NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • No limits set by NIOSH
• Levels In Humans:
  Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
  • Blood/mg dm^-3: 37.8
  • Bone/p.p.m: 700-1800
  • Liver/p.p.m: 590
  • Muscle/p.p.m: 900
  • Daily Dietary Intake: 250-380 mg
  • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 19 g
• Discovery Year: 1808
• Name Origin:

  Greek: From Magnesia a district of Thessaly.

• Abundance of Magnesium:
  • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 23000
  • Seawater/p.p.m.: 1200
  • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
  • Sun (Relative to H=1E¹²): 4E+07
• Sources of Magnesium:

  Usually obtained by electrolysis of melted magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) found in sea water. World production is around 350,000 tons per year. Primary mining areas are Austria, China, Poland, Russia, USA, India, Greece and Canada.

• Uses of Magnesium:

  Used in alloys to make airplanes, missiles, racing bikes and other things that need light metals. Also used in fireplace bricks, flashbulbs, pigments and filters.

• Additional Notes:

  In 1755 Joseph Black in Edinburgh Scotland recognized magnesium as an element, however, it wasn't issolated until 1808 by Sir Humphrey Davy.

Magnesium Menu

• Magnesium Page One
  • Overview of Magnesium
  • Magnesium's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Magnesium
  • Chemical Properties of Magnesium
  • Physical Properties of Magnesium
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Magnesium Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Magnesium Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Magnesium

References

A list of reference sources used to compile the data provided on our periodic table of elements can be found on the main periodic table page.

Related Resources

• Anatomy of the Atom
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• Molarity, Molality and Normality
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• Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
  Molar mass calculations are explained and there is a JavaScript calculator to aid calculations.
• Chemical Database
  This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Magnesium - Mg. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2024. Accessed on-line: 12/21/2024
https://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Mg.html
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