
Magnesium element (Mg) is in group 2 and period 3 of a periodic table. Magnesium is in the s-block and it is classified as an alkaline earth metal on the periodic table.
There is a lot more information related to magnesium which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.
So let’s dive right into it!
Table of contents
- Magnesium element (Information Table)
- Magnesium element in Periodic table
- Facts about Magnesium
- Properties of Magnesium
- Uses of Magnesium
Magnesium Element (Information Table)
The important data related to magnesium element is given in the table below.
Appearance of magnesium | Shiny gray |
Atomic number of magnesium | 12 |
Symbol of magnesium | Mg |
Atomic mass of magnesium | 24.305 u |
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in magnesium | Protons: 12, Neutrons: 12, Electrons: 12 |
State of magnesium (at STP) | Solid |
Group number of magnesium in periodic table | 2 |
Period number of magnesium in periodic table | 3 |
Block of magnesium in periodic table | s-block |
Category of magnesium | Alkaline earth metals |
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in magnesium | 2, 8, 2 |
Electron configuration of magnesium | [Ne] 3s2 |
Orbital diagram of magnesium | ![]() |
Valence electrons in magnesium | 2 |
Electronegativity of magnesium (on pauling scale) | 1.31 |
Atomic radius of magnesium (van der Waals radius) | 173 picometers |
Density of magnesium | 1.74 g/cm3 |
1st ionization energy of magnesium | 7.646 eV |
Main isotope of magnesium | 24Mg |
Melting point of magnesium | 923 K or 650 °C or 1202 °F |
Boiling point of magnesium | 1363 K or 1091 °C or 1994 °F |
Crystal structure of magnesium | Hexagonal Closed Packing (HCP) |
Discovery of magnesium | By Joseph Black in 1755 |
Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).
Magnesium element in Periodic table
The Magnesium element (Mg) has the atomic number 12 and is located in group 2 and period 3. Magnesium is in solid state at STP and it is classified as an alkaline earth metal on the periodic table.
H | He | ||||||||||||||||
Li | Be | B | C | N | O | F | Ne | ||||||||||
Na | Mg | Al | Si | P | S | Cl | Ar | ||||||||||
K | Ca | Sc | Ti | V | Cr | Mn | Fe | Co | Ni | Cu | Zn | Ga | Ge | As | Se | Br | Kr |
Rb | Sr | Y | Zr | Nb | Mo | Tc | Ru | Rh | Pd | Ag | Cd | In | Sn | Sb | Te | I | Xe |
Cs | Ba | La* | Hf | Ta | W | Re | Os | Ir | Pt | Au | Hg | Tl | Pb | Bi | Po | At | Rn |
Fr | Ra | Ac** | Rf | Db | Sg | Bh | Hs | Mt | Ds | Rg | Cn | Nh | Fl | Mc | Lv | Ts | Og |
*Ce | Pr | Nd | Pm | Sm | Eu | Gd | Tb | Dy | Ho | Er | Tm | Yb | Lu | ||||
**Th | Pa | U | Np | Pu | Am | Cm | Bk | Cf | Es | Fm | Md | No | Lr |
Facts about magnesium
Here are a few interesting facts about magnesium element.
- The name magnesium comes from the Greek region “Magnesia”.
- Magnesium element is found from the sea as well as from the earth’s crust.
- The magnesium element is the 8th most abundant element present in the earth’s crust.
- Magnesium is the 11th most abundant element (by mass) in the human body.
- Around 60% of the total magnesium in the human body is present in the skeleton.
- Magnesium is present in the center of the chlorophyll and it is important for photosynthesis.
- Magnesium is also an important element for the human body which performs the biochemical reactions.
Properties of magnesium
Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of magnesium.
Physical properties of magnesium
- Magnesium has a shiny-gray appearance and is a solid metal.
- Magnesium is light-weight and soft metal.
- The magnesium metal has a density of 1.74 g/cm3 which is 2/3rd the density of aluminum.
- The magnesium forms an alloy with 1% aluminum which increases the ductility of the alloy.
- The melting point and boiling point of magnesium are 650 °C and 1091 °C respectively.
Chemical properties of magnesium
- Magnesium forms a thin oxide layer on its surface when kept open in the air.
- Magnesium is a reactive metal and hence it is always found as a compound with other elements in the earth’s crust.
- When magnesium metal (or a magnesium metal strip) is submerged in water, it liberates the hydrogen gas.
- Magnesium gives a bright white light when exposed to fire.
- Magnesium easily reacts with acids and liberates heat during the reaction.
Uses of magnesium
Here are some uses of the magnesium element.
- Magnesiumis used as an alloying metal with aluminum and it gives light and strong metal which is used in car bodies, drinking cans, etc.
- Some other lightweight alloys are also prepared by mixing magnesium with zinc, silicon and manganese.
- Magnesium hydroxide is a compound of magnesium which is used in manufacturing fire resistant plastics.
- Magnesium is also needed by the human body for biochemical reactions.
- Magnesium is also used in fireworks and flares.
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