Magnesium

chemistry · metals · light

Brilliant white fire. When magnesium burns, it creates an extremely bright white light, so bright that it was once used in old camera flashes and fireworks to light up dark places.

Lighter than aluminum. Magnesium is one of the lightest metals on Earth, which makes it perfect for building things that need to be strong but not heavy, like airplane parts and sports equipment.

Self-protecting coating. When magnesium touches air, it forms a thin protective layer of magnesium oxide on its surface that stops it from rusting and falling apart, kind of like how it puts on its own shield.

Element number 12. Magnesium has the chemical symbol Mg and is one of the basic building blocks of matter that scientists study to understand how everything is made.

From salt water. Most magnesium comes from seawater and salty underground deposits that are separated using electricity to pull the pure metal out.