Magnesium.

Essay by ibbyfHigh School, 10th gradeA-, January 2004

download word file, 2 pages 2.2

Magnesium is a metal that was made by the British chemist; Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808. Humphrey is known for his research of reactions with electrical energy and chemical reactions. Magnesium is the light weight metal that doesn't change under normal conditions. Magnesium is found in the alkali earth metal family, which is group two of the periodic table.

In 1808 Sir Humphrey Davy isolated Magnesium. Today it is obtained mainly by electrolysis of combined magnesium. Magnesium is flexible and malleable when heated. The metal can not rust and by water or by oxygen at room temperature, but it reacts with acids. When heated to about 800° C, it reacts with oxygen and causes a white light. Magnesium melts at about 1200° F, boils at about 2025° F.

Magnesium is used with many things. It can be combined with other metals like aluminum or copper as a structural component. Since it is light weight, it is used for airplane parts, in artificial limbs, vacuum cleaners, and glasses; it's also in skis, wheelbarrows, lawn mowers, and outdoor furniture.

Magnesium can also be destructive like in fire-starting bombs, and signal flares. Magnesium ranks sixth in natural wealth among the elements in crystal rocks. It isn't that hard to get, that's why it is used with many things. The estimated world production of magnesium in 2002 was 422,000 metric tons. The estimated United States production in the same year was 65,000 metric tons (this was new and old scrap).

Magnesium has an atomic # of twelve in the first energy level. It has two electrons in the second energy Level, and 8 electrons in the final energy level it also has two valence electrons. The atomic weight of magnesium is 24.305. Magnesium is found in the alkali earth metal family, which is...