Magnesium Essay -- essays research papers

Magnesium is the twelfth element on the periodic table. It is located in the secondgroup called the alkaline earth metals. Natural magnesium contains three different isotopes,and there are twelve others that are recognized. Sea water is a rich source of magnesium inthe form of salt. Magnesium is the eighth much or less abundant element in the earths crust. Magnesium readily ignites upon heating in line of products and burns with a dazzling white flame. Toextinguish the flame water should not be used. Alkaline earth metal salts in general, are lesssoluble in water than the corresponding alkali metal salts. some(prenominal) are even so insoluble thatthey resist weathering and leaching action in rainwater. Alkaline earth metals are extractedfrom the mineral ores standardised they have been for some(prenominal) decades. This second group of metals isto a fault less reactive than the alkali metals. They do not need to have a specific storageprocedure like that of the corresponding elements. These alkaline metals react with acids,and in certain temperatures of water. They are also harder than their alkali friends. Ingeneral, they have a gray-white luster that tarnishes quickly in the air to form a tough, thinoxide coating. The coating protects the metal, particularly magnesium, from furtheroxidation. This allows alloys of these metals to be used as low-density structural materials. Magnesium is one of the two most important alkaline earth metals. It is found inseawater. Today, though it is chiefly produced by electrolysis of fused magnesium chloride. It has many uses. Magnesium is an important material that is a chief component in anumber of high-tensile-strength, low-density alloys. These properties allow the alloy to bevery valuable in air and spacecraft construction. Also, the devalue metal is used to make alarge variety of other products, such as, artificial limbs, vacuum cleaners, opticalinstruments, recreational skis, wheelbarrows, lawn mowers, and ou tdoor furniture. Magnesium is also found in asbestos. Asbestos was used in insulating materials up until itwas found to cause cancer and other types of lung diseases. The unalloyed metal ofmagnesium is used in photographic flashlight powders, incendiary bombs, and signal flares. This special element also has many important roles in the body. The most vital need for it ison the cellular level. It is as important as calcium, and is found in bone... ... nuts, pecans, and cashews contain some of the highest amounts of theelement from edible nuts. Many types of fish contain the element too, specifically salmon. Also fruits such as dried apricots or avocados hold the element well. Eating these foodsproves to be beneficial to the body in the ways already stated and many more in the longrun. As you can see, magnesium is a special element that is extremely useful in our lives.We come across every day, in all unaware that it is there or even what it is. Mostelements are like that though, ne ver thanked or recognized for the important roles they playin our world today. lifespan without elements wouldnt be life at all. Without elements, such asmagnesium, we would find ourselves without many of the conveniences and advancementsin civilization that are currently available to us. Society, as a whole, (not just chemistrystudents) should learn more about these elements and appreciate all that they have giventhem for without them, life wouldnt be the same. With new advances in space geographic expeditionand more experimental research, we are sure to find many more elements which will make the life to come almost an effortless exsistance.