Magnesium
Magnesium (镁, symbol Mg) is chemical element number 12, an Alkaline Earth in period 3, group 2 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 24.305. Shiny gray metal, key to chlorophyll and used in lightweight structural alloys.
Properties
| Atomic number | 12 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Mg |
| Atomic mass | 24.305 u |
| Category | Alkaline Earth |
| Period | 3 |
| Group | 2 |
| Electron configuration | [Ne] 3s² |
| Electronegativity | 1.31 |
| Covalent radius | 141 pm |
| Density | 1.738 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 923 K |
| Boiling point | 1363 K |
| Discovery | Joseph Black, 1755 |
Overview
Shiny gray metal, key to chlorophyll and used in lightweight structural alloys. Magnesium (symbol Mg) is chemical element number 12, sitting in period 3, group 2 of the periodic table and classed as an Alkaline Earth. As an alkaline-earth metal it is a little less reactive than the alkali metals and occurs in nature mainly within mineral compounds.
It has the configuration [Ne] 3s² and an electronegativity near 1.31; its 2 outer-shell electrons drive its bonding. Under standard conditions it exists as a solid; it melts near 923 K (649.9 °C), boils near 1363 K (1089.9 °C), has a density around 1.738 g/cm³.
It is widely used in Structural / Alloys, Medical / Pharma and Agriculture / Fertiliser. It is regarded as a moderate-hazard element, so handle it with appropriate care. It was first described by Joseph Black in 1755. See more trends in the visualization center.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 2
Main uses
- Structural / Alloys
- Medical / Pharma
- Agriculture / Fertiliser
Hazard
Compounds containing Magnesium
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Magnesium yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.