The Element Magnesium

Magnesium is not found free in nature. It is found in compounds such as magnesium oxide. Magnesium is usually extracted from seawater. It was first isolated by Sir Humphry Davy, an English chemist through a process of electrolysis. Every cubic kilometer of seawater contains about 1.3 billion kilograms of magnesium. This translates into a lot of magnesium in sea water. Magnesium burns with a brilliant white light (which you should not look at while it burns.) It is used in some types of flares, in some fireworks, and in flashbulbs (the older kind). Some hobby shops used to sell a small strip of magnesium ribbon which could be ignited and burned. Teachers sometimes demonstrated how it burns in the classroom. Today teachers need to take a bit more care if they should ignite magnesium in the classroom, the burning magnesium can break and burn the top of a desk etc. It also gives off clouds of fumes as it burns and this may pose a breathing problem for some students and teachers. Magnesium may be added to aluminum making it easier to use.

Magnesium oxide is used in some antacids. When combined with water it forms magnesium hydroxide better known as milk of magnesia. When used in flashbulbs it is formed into many very fine filaments that burn in a flash when a battery charge is sent into the filaments. (Today, flash cameras use a different process that does not require the use of disposable flash cubes.)

Hydrated magnesium sulfate better known as Epsom salt is used today to treat minor skin abrasions and as a salt added to your bath. The addition of a salt into the bath water helps to keep your skin hydrated while in the tub and can keep your skin from wrinkling in the tub. One of the reasons that magnesium is used in flares is that once started burning it is difficult to stop it from burning. Roadside flares will continue to burn even in the rain. To put out such a flare they are usually pushed into a pile of sand or dirt to completely smother the flare. Flares are sometimes used as countermeasures by aircraft trying to escape a missile attack.

If the missile can be tricked to lock on to a flare instead of the aircraft then the aircraft may have a chance to escape. The counter measure needs to be deployed at a sufficient distance to allow the airplane a chance to put some distance between the flares and the missiles. This technique and others are part of a whole range of techniques to escape a missile attack.

Flares were dropped on the dark side of the moon to allow pictures to be taken of that side of the moon, which never faces the Earth. Flares are used on ships to signal for help. Magnesium is an important element. There are many articles on Associated Content about the health benefits of magnesium - check them out!

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