Magnesium
Aging stars forge magnesium by adding three helium nuclei to a carbon nucleus. When these massive stars explode as supernovas, they eject the element into the interstellar medium. This process recycles magnesium into new star systems across the universe. On Earth, this cosmic dust settled billions of years ago to form our planet's interior. Magnesium now makes up 13% of the total mass of the Earth. It ranks as the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust by weight. The element also holds the fourth spot among all elements within the entire planet. Only iron, oxygen, and silicon exceed its presence inside the globe. Seawater contains magnesium as the third most abundant dissolved element after sodium and chlorine.
Sir Humphry Davy first isolated pure magnesium metal in England during 1808 using electrolysis on magnesia and mercuric oxide. The resulting substance appeared as a shiny gray metal with low density and high chemical reactivity. Elemental magnesium oxidizes rapidly upon exposure to air to form a thin protective layer of magnesium oxide. This coating prevents further corrosion of the underlying metal block. Powdered magnesium reacts violently with water at room temperature to produce hydrogen gas bubbles. The reaction slows significantly when submerged because magnesium hydroxide builds up on the surface. Heating powdered magnesium just below its melting point allows it to react with nitrogen gas. This interaction creates magnesium nitride Mg3N2 in the solid state. Burning magnesium ribbon produces a brilliant white light that includes strong ultraviolet wavelengths.
World production reached approximately 1,100 kilotons in 2017 with China supplying 930 kilotons. The Pidgeon process dominates global output by reducing magnesium oxide with ferrosilicon alloy at high temperatures. A Chinese government initiative in September 2021 reduced production levels causing significant price increases. The United States once supplied 45% of world production even as recently as 1995 before losing market share. Only one US producer remains today known as US Magnesium located near the Great Salt Lake. The Dow process extracts magnesium from seawater using electrolysis of fused magnesium chloride between 680 and 750 degrees Celsius. This method generates harmful chlorine gas and requires substantial energy input compared to other techniques. Modern YSZ technology offers a 40% cost reduction per pound over traditional electrolytic methods. The carbothermic route provides low energy extraction but faces challenges with slow cooling vapors reverting reactions.
German military aircraft utilized magnesium alloys extensively during World War II under the name Elektron. Wright Aeronautical installed a magnesium crankcase in the WWII-era Wright R-3350 Duplex Cyclone aviation engine. An engine fire on an early Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber reached temperatures of 5,600 degrees Fahrenheit. That heat was sufficient to sever the wing spar from the fuselage completely. Mercedes-Benz used Elektron alloy for the bodywork of the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR race cars. One such vehicle crashed at Le Mans in 1955 showering spectators with burning fragments of Elektron. Porsche employed magnesium alloy frames in the 917/053 that won Le Mans in 1971. BMW integrated magnesium alloy blocks into their N52 engine models produced between 2005 and 2011. Chevrolet utilized the AE44 magnesium alloy in the 2006 Corvette Z06 sports car. Modern aerospace applications increasingly replace aluminum and steel due to fuel economy requirements.
Magnesium ranks as the eleventh most abundant element by mass within the human body. More than 300 enzymes require magnesium ions to function properly inside cells. The ATP molecule normally exists as a chelate complex with a single magnesium ion. An adult body contains roughly 25 grams of magnesium distributed across bones and muscles. Sixty percent resides in the skeleton while 39% sits intracellularly including skeletal muscle tissue. Only 1% remains extracellular in serum or plasma. Green leafy vegetables like spinach provide rich dietary sources of this essential mineral. Spices, nuts, cereals, cocoa, and vegetables also supply significant amounts for daily consumption. Recommended daily values differ between men and women based on age groups in the United States. Alcoholism often correlates with magnesium deficiency leading to neuromuscular dysfunction symptoms.
Milk of magnesia suspends magnesium hydroxide in water to serve as an antacid or laxative. Intravenous magnesium sulfate manages pre-eclampsia and eclampsia conditions during pregnancy labor. Emergency cardiac treatments use magnesium to stabilize abnormal nerve excitation or blood vessel spasms. Overdose from dietary sources alone is unlikely because kidneys filter excess magnesium promptly. Severe hypermagnesemia can cause nausea vomiting confusion slowed heart rates and even death. Burning magnesium reacts violently with water releasing highly flammable hydrogen gas that intensifies fires. Dry sand acts as an effective smothering agent for relatively level surfaces only. Carbon dioxide fuels rather than extinguishes magnesium fires by reacting exothermically to form carbon. Class D dry chemical fire extinguishers remain necessary for industrial safety protocols involving molten metal.
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Common questions
How was pure magnesium metal first isolated and when did this happen?
Sir Humphry Davy first isolated pure magnesium metal in England during 1808 using electrolysis on magnesia and mercuric oxide. The resulting substance appeared as a shiny gray metal with low density and high chemical reactivity.
What percentage of the Earth's total mass is made up by magnesium?
Magnesium now makes up 13% of the total mass of the Earth. It ranks as the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust by weight and holds the fourth spot among all elements within the entire planet.
Which country supplied the majority of global magnesium production in 2017?
World production reached approximately 1,100 kilotons in 2017 with China supplying 930 kilotons. A Chinese government initiative in September 2021 reduced production levels causing significant price increases.
Why do modern aerospace applications increasingly replace aluminum and steel with magnesium alloys?
Modern aerospace applications increasingly replace aluminum and steel due to fuel economy requirements. German military aircraft utilized magnesium alloys extensively during World War II under the name Elektron for lightweight structural components.
How much magnesium does an adult human body contain and where does it reside?
An adult body contains roughly 25 grams of magnesium distributed across bones and muscles. Sixty percent resides in the skeleton while 39% sits intracellularly including skeletal muscle tissue.