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What the name
means: Magnesium is named after a
region in Thessaly, Greece called Magnesia.
This region provided an ore called
magnesia alba (magnesium carbonate). In
1808 Humphry Davy suggested calling the
element magnium (so that it would not be
confused with manganese). However, by this
time the name magnesium was well
established around Europe.
Who
identified magnesium? Magnesium
carbonate (magnesia alba) was well
known to the early alchemists. In 1618 a
man named Henry Wicker noticed that thirsty
cows avoided drinking from one particular
water hole in Epsom, England. The water,
rich in calcium sulphate that made it taste
bitter, was found to help heal wounds and
sores. Epsom became a spa where people came
to bathe in the mineral-rich waters.
Magnesium metal was isolated from magnesium
oxide (magnesia) mixed with water by
Humphry Davy in 1808.
About magnesium:
Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal
belonging to the second period of the
periodic table. It is a strong, greyish
metal that can be made into filings, ribbon
and powder. It is never found as an element
in nature since it is very reactive and
forms compounds. Magnesium is an essential
element for plants and animals. In plants
it is needed for the process of
photosynthesis to take place. |
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