Alexis McGillivray

Magnesium (symbol; Mg atomic number 12) was discovered in 1755 by an English farmer name Sir Humphrey Davy. When Sir Humphrey got water for his cows he noticed they refused to drink it because of the bitter taste. However he also noticed that it healed scratches and rashes. From there Epsom salts spread. Later discovered as Magnesium Sulphate.

Magnesium’s atomic symbol Mg comes from the word Magnesia which is a district in Thessaly. It has the atomic number 12 and has a mass of u ± u. Magnesium is an alkali earth metal. It has a silvery white color. It is a solid and has a melting point of 650 °C and a boiling point of1,091 °C.

When burnt magnesium create a brilliant bright light, therefore its used in pyrotechnics, flares, and photographic flashbulbs. Magnesium is the lightest metal that can be used to build things, although its use as a structural material is limited since it burns at relatively low temperature. The average persons body contains about 25% of magnesium. So when there Magnesium levels are running low they tend to take supplements.

Magnesium is also used for treating attention deficit- hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease, leg cramps during pregnancy, diabetes, kidney stones, migraine headaches, osteoporosis, premenstrual syndrome, altitude sickness, urinary incontinence, restless leg syndrome, asthma, hay fever, multiple sclerosis, and for preventing hearing loss. It can also be used for heart and blood vessel diseases.

Without magnesium we could not produce energy, our muscles would be in a permanent state of contraction, and we could not adjust the levels of cholesterol produced and released into the blood stream. As well celebrations wouldn’t be as fun without the bight and colorful explosions in the sky. Magnesium is very important to not only our body's but our festivities.