SIMPLE SCIENCE
What about Magnesium?
Occupying the twelfth position in Periodic is Magnesium (Mg), a mineral that is very important for living beings and their biological functions, this is the seventh most abundant element on our planet; this is a soft metal belonging to the group of metals called alkaline earth and high reactivity, that is why it is always found forming compounds and is not found as metallic magnesium in nature. One of the characteristics of magnesium is that when it is immersed in water, it reacts by releasing bubbles. It is not as reactive as calcium, which we will talk about in a later post, but it reacts in a similar way, although a little slower. It is found in seawater and constitutes 2% of the constitution as a mineral in abundance, in addition to forming ions with other elements. In chemical synthesis it is the main element within Grignard's reagents and it is highly flammable and being with a flame it is difficult to extinguish since it reacts with both nitrogen and oxygen in the air. In the case of nitrogen it forms magnesium nitrate and also reacts with carbon dioxide where when reacting the resulting compounds are magnesium and carbon oxide. This is an element known to create compounds that most possess a strong purple color.[1-2-3]
What is Magnesium used for?
Magnesium has an enormous amount of uses, one of the best known is in the creation of alloys with aluminum for the creation of automobile wheels as well as for beverage containers; its oxide is used as a refraction material in the production of steel, which is used as a fundamental material in the steel casting process, in the elimination of sulfur and the subsequent creation of steel. In nuclear power plants, magnesium is used as a reducing agent in the production of uranium, and magnesium carbonate (white powder) is used by high performance athletes such as gymnasts, pole vaulters, and weightlifters, among others, to increase the grip of the bars. Magnesium among other uses are in the manufacture of fireworks, as they produce a strong flame, it is also well known its use in flares that are used by rescuers because their flame is difficult to extinguish and are water resistant.[3]
Magnesium has three stable isotopes
Three stable isotopes of magnesium can be found in nature, of which Mg-24, Mg-25 and Mg-26, the latter being used in the dating of meteors or objects that come to our planet from outside. In addition, 18 radioisotopes can be found, of which the one with the longest half-life is Mg-28 with 20.9 hours, and the lightest ones decompose into sodium isotopes. [3-4]
Curiosities about Magnesium.
Magnesium hydroxide is a compound widely used as a purgative because it cleans our body of excesses and impurities, and has been used for years for this purpose. Magnesium has several curious features, one of which is its ability to form a chemical compound capable of helping us to release the excess of unwanted elements in the feces and urine, as well as providing a good antacid when it is well sprayed in this case the Magnesium oxide. Magnesium sulfate can also be used as a laxative, since it inhibits the absorption of water by the intestine, stimulating defecation. In addition, this same magnesium sulfate compound is used in the textile industry in the manufacture of looms and sewing threads and in the manufacture of paper, in different presentations. Many of the uses that derive from magnesium compounds are used in daily life and it is also believed that the consumption of magnesium chloride in low concentrations helps the body to maintain its vital and cognitive functions stable.[5]
Other uses of Magnesium.
In the antiquity when the first photographic cameras were invented, the powder of magnesium was used, given to its high luminance when being ignited with a flame, this one was used as that incandescent light that served to illuminate the photographies, using this method at the beginning of the 20th century [2-3]
Another of the main uses of Magnesium is as a plantation fertilizer, because it is a good nutrient contributor for both land and marine plants, since this mineral can be found dissolved in seawater forming magnesium ions. [3]
In the reference area I will leave you more information to enrich your reading.
Disturbing note on Magnesium.
Magnesium in certain compounds, is highly flammable, and what makes it even more dangerous, is its inability to attenuate its flame, because it is water resistant and can maintain its flame even in the absence of oxygen, giving this interesting particularity that makes it a fundamental material in the manufacture of flares for rescue and rescue.
Recommendations.
If you need to cleanse the colon and intestines it is recommended to make use of Milk of Magnesia (Magnesium Hydroxide) to eliminate impurities from the body. Magnesium has many favorable uses for the body, however, in certain compounds it can be a very dangerous material and should be handled with caution.
| Resources | Link |
|---|---|
| 1 | Magnesium |
| 2 | Characteristics of Magnesium |
| 3 | Magnesium definition and characteristics |
| 4 | Magnesium Isotopes |
| 5 | Curiosities and health effects of Magnesium |
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