Interesting Facts About Magnesium
Updated: Jan 14, 2022
Learn More About the Ninth-Most Abundant Element in the Universe
Magnesium is an important alkaline earth metal. It’s essential for animal and plant nutrition and is found in a variety of foods we eat and many everyday products. Here are some interesting facts about magnesium:
Magnesium Facts
Magnesium is the metal ion found at the center of every chlorophyll molecule. It’s an essential element for photosynthesis.
Magnesium ions taste sour. A small amount of magnesium imparts a slightly tart flavor to mineral water.
Adding water to a magnesium fire produces hydrogen gas, which can cause the fire to burn more fiercely.
Magnesium is a silvery-white alkaline earth metal.
Magnesium is named for the Greek city of Magnesia, a source of calcium oxide, which is called magnesia.
Magnesium is the ninth-most abundant element in the universe.
Magnesium forms in large stars as a result of the fusion of helium with neon. In supernovas, the element is built from the addition of three helium nuclei to one carbon.
Magnesium is the 11th-most abundant element in the human body by mass. Magnesium ions are found in every cell in the body.
Magnesium is necessary for hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body. The average person requires 250 to 350 mg of magnesium each day or about 100 grams of magnesium annually.
About 60% of the magnesium in the human body is found in the skeleton, 39% in the muscle tissue, with 1% being extracellular.
Low magnesium intake or absorption is associated with diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, sleep disturbances, and metabolic syndrome.
Magnesium is the eighth-most abundant element in the Earth’s crust.
Magnesium was first recognized as an element in 1755 by Joseph Black. However, it wasn’t isolated until 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy.
The most common commercial use of magnesium metal is as an alloying agent with aluminum. The resulting alloy is lighter, stronger, and easier to work than pure aluminum.
China is the leading producer of magnesium, responsible for about 80% of the world’s supply.
Magnesium may be prepared from the electrolysis of fused magnesium chloride, most commonly obtained from seawater.