WebElements Periodic Table of the Elements | Magnesium

Magnesium: biological information

Biological role of magnesium: magnesium is an important element for plants and animals. Chlorophylls (responsible for the green colour of plants) are compounds knonw as porphyrins and are based upon magnesium. Magnesium is required for the proper working of some enzymes. The adult daily requirement of magnesium is about 0.3 g day^-1.

Levels in humans

Table: the abundances of the elements in humans.
Human abundance by weight	270000 ppb by weight
Human abundance by atoms	70000 atoms relative to C = 1000000

How much magnesium is in your body? Find out here.

You can use this form to calculate how much magnesium your body contains. Enter your weight in either kilograms or pounds and click the "Calculate" button. You must enter a number, not text! Elements for which there are no data will always give a value of zero for the weight, no matter what you put in the weight box.

Hazards and Risks

Hazards and risks associated with magnesium: magnesium metal is a major fire risk. Magnesium compounds are not normally particularly toxic.

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Li	Be	B
Na	Mg	Al
K	Ca	Sc

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Magnesium
- Essential data: names, symbol, atomic number, and atomic weight; block, period, and group in periodic table; description; standard state; registry number; and isolation
- History: meaning of name; discovery; and history of the element
- Find a property
Magnesium around us
- Uses
- Geology: Abundance of elements in the universe; the sun; meteorites; Earth's crust; oceans; and streams
- Biology: Abundance in humans; biological role; and health hazards)
Magnesium compounds
- Compounds: halides, oxides, sulfides, hydrides, and complexes; lattice energies; and reduction potentials
- Electronegativities: Pauling; Sanderson; Allred Rochow; Mulliken-Jaffe; and Allen
- Bond enthalpies of diatomic species
- Lattice energies
Element properties
- Physics properties: Boiling point; melting point; density; molar volume; thermal conductivity; and electrical resistivity; bulk modulus; critical temperature; superconductivity temperature; hardness (mineralogical, Brinell, and Vickers); linear expansion coefficient; Poisson's ratio; reflectivity; refractive index; rigidity modulus; Young's modulus; velocity of sound
- Images
- Reactions of magnesium: reactions of magnesium with air; water; halogens; acids; and bases
- Crystal structure
- Thermochemistry: enthalpies of atomization, fusion, and vaporization; thermodynamic properties
Atom properties
- Electron shell properties: Electronic configuration; term symbol; electron affinity; ionization energies; and atomic spectra
- Atom sizes: atomic radius; Shannon and Pauling ionic radii; covalent radius; metallic radius; element bond length; and Van der Waals radius
- Atomic orbital properties: effective nuclear charge; electron binding energies; and valence orbital radii maxima
Nuclear properties
- Isotopes: isotope abundances; radioactive isotopes; isotope masses; nuclear spins; and nuclear magnetic moment
- NMR properties: frequencies; isotopes; magnetogyric ratios; quadrupole moments; receptivities; and relative sensitivities

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