Why Is Magnesium Called Magnesium?
Magnesium is a light, silver-white, medium hard element of a metallic nature which can be found in either ribbon or a powdered variety. Magnesium can be recognised by its characteristic ability to burn with a brilliant white flame. The word magnesium is derived from the word for Magnesium oxide (MgO), that is, magnesia. Magnesia in Middle English means a mineral ingredient of the philosopher’s stone, which is derived from the Medieval Latin magnesia, traced back to Greek origin of magnesia which refers to a kind of ore, named after Magnesia, an ancient city that used to be situated in Asia Minor. As a result of its light weight and its capacity to make strong alloys, it is used in numerous industrial applications. As a mineral, it occurs in abundance in rock forming minerals like magnesite and serpentine.
