(From
magnesia) A lightweight, silver-white,
malleable and
ductile,
metallic chemical element, one of the
alkaline-earth metals, used in making several
alloys and, because it burns with a hot, white light, in
photographic flashbulbs,
incendiary bombs, etc.
Symbol: Mg
Atomic number: 12
Atomic weight: 24.3050
Density (at room temperature and pressure): 1.738 g/cc
Melting point: 650°C
Boiling point: 1,090°C
Main valence: +2
Ground state electron configuration: [Ne]3s2