1755,1808

Magnesium

• Joseph Black recognized
• that magnesia alba contained
• a new element in the line
• of alkaline earths like calcium
• as he reported in 1755 his chemical
• experiments with various alkaline earths
• combining with acids and carbon dioxide.
• Humphry Davy was the first
• to isolate it as a metal. He obtained it
• using electrolysis of magnesia and mercuric oxide
• with the Royal Society’s voltaic pile.

Atomic number 12

• Alchemists used magnesia alba.
• The name derived from Magnesia, in Greece,
• which derived from the tribe, Magnetes,
• which in turn derived
• from the legendary Greek hero, Magnes.
• Epsom salts were naturally occurring—
• hydrated magnesium sulfate from a spring
• discovered by a farmer in Epsom, England—
• and was found to have healing effects.
• *
• Magnesium is the lightest structural metal,
• alloyed with aluminum or zinc,
• used in aircraft and aerospace components.
• Automobile parts, laptops, mobile phones,
• golf clubs, and photoengraving plates
• are made with it.
• *
• Magnesium ribbon or powder is highly explosive,
• burning bright with ultraviolet light
• that can damage the eyes,
• but magnesium phosphate makes wood fireproof.

Stuff that burns

• Wood burns, paper burns.
• If we don’t expect a metal to burn,
• then we don’t understand burning.
• Or like burning ears, or
• a heart burning with love, we
• understand it only metaphorically.