Magnesium

Used for

magnesium sulfate

See for

Mg element

Broader Terms

alkaline earth metal

Related Terms

magnesium ion

Scope Note

light, silvery metallic element, symbol Mg, atomic number 12; its salts are essential in nutrition, being required for the activity of many enzymes especially those concerned with oxidative phosphorylation.

Facts

• Standard state: solid at 298 K
• Colour: silvery white
• Classification: Metallic
• Availability: magnesium is available in several forms including chips, granules, powder, rod, foil, sheet, rod, turnings, and ribbon.
• Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the earth's crust.
• Magnesium is a very important essential macromineral, even though there are only several ounces in the body
• Another important effect of supplemental magnesium is its ability to mitigate the cardiotoxic effects of catecholamines.
• Magnesium is necessary for life and can protect the kidney from disease but if kidney damage has already occurred magnesium supplementation could be harmful, even life threatening.
• A mineral used by the body to help maintain muscles, nerves, and bones.
• It is needed for protein, bone, and fatty acid formation, making new cells, activating B vitamins, relaxing muscles, blood clotting and forming adenosine triphosphate (ATP).