(From magnesia) A lightweight, silver-white, malleable and ductile, metallic chemical element, one of the alkaline-earth metals, used in making several alloys and, because it burns with a hot, white light, in photographic flashbulbs, incendiary bombs, etc.

Symbol: Mg
Atomic number: 12
Atomic weight: 24.3050
Density (at room temperature and pressure): 1.738 g/cc
Melting point: 650°C
Boiling point: 1,090°C
Main valence: +2
Ground state electron configuration: [Ne]3s2

Magnesium
Symbol: Mg
Atomic Number: 12
Boiling Point: 1380 K
Melting Point: 922 K
Density at 300K: 1.74 g/cm3
Covalent radius: 1.36
Atomic radius: 1.72
Atomic volume: 14.0 cm3/mol
First ionization potental: 7.646 V
Specific heat capacity: 1.02 Jg-1K-1
Thermal conductivity: 156 Wm-1K-1
Electrical conductivity: 22.4 106Ω-1m-1
Heat of fusion: 8.95 kJ/mol
Heat of vaporization: 127.6 kJ/mol
Electronegativity: 1.31 (Pauling's)

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Mag*ne"si*um (?), n. [NL. & F. See Magnesia.] Chem.

A light silver-white metallic element, malleable and ductile, quite permanent in dry air but tarnishing in moist air. It burns, forming (the oxide) magnesia, with the production of a blinding light (the so-called magnesium light) which is used in signaling, in pyrotechny, or in photography where a strong actinic illuminant is required. Its compounds occur abundantly, as in dolomite, talc, meerschaum, etc. Symbol Mg. Atomic weight, 24.4. Specific gravity, 1.75.

Magnesium sulphate. Chem. Same as Epsom salts.

 

© Webster 1913.

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