Magnesium (Mg)

A shiny gray solid, essential to all cellular life.

Burns with a brilliant white light, historically used in photography flashes.

Element properties

Atomic number
12
Symbol
Mg
Atomic mass
24.305 u
Category
Alkaline Earth Metal
Period
3
Group
2
Block
s
State
Solid
Electron configuration
[Ne] 3s2
Electronegativity (Pauling)
1.31
Density
1.738 g/cm³
Melting point
650 °C
Boiling point
1090 °C

Uses