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General Info:

Magnesium (Mg)
Atomic Number: 12
Atomic Mass: 24.3050g
Melting Point: 650.0 °C (923.15 °K, 1202.0 °F)
Boiling Point: 1107.0 °C (1380.15 °K, 2024.6 °F)
Density of solid [/kg m-3]: 1738

http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Mg/key.html
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/m/magnesiu.asp

Chemical Properties:

Magnesium is a silvery-white metal that is malleable while heated and reacts with a very violent white light, this reaction forms the oxide, magnesia, MgO.  Magnesium is formed in a hexagonal close-packed crystalline structure and is an alkaline-earth metal in group IIa of the periodic table.  Magnesium is not affected by dry air but in moist air it becomes slightly tarnished and forms a thin protective coating of magnesium carbonate.  A magnesium fire can't be put out by water since water would just react with the magnesium and release hydrogen.  Magnesium reacts with halogens and almost all of the acids and is also a powerful reducing agent used to free other metals from their anhydrous halides.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/m/magnesiu.asp


  An example of a magnesium reaction
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Mg/key.html

A video of magnesium reacting can be found:
Here (.5 megs)

Where is Magnesium Found?

Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the earth's crust but cannot be found as purely magnesium in nature.  It is found mostly with brucite, magnesite, dolomite, and carnalite, in lesser quantities it can also be found in asbestos, meerschaum, serpentine, and talc.  Another common compound with magnesium that is found is magnesium chloride which in turn is found in seawater, brines, and salt wells.  Mineral waters also often contain salts of magnesium; the the magnesium ion imparts a bitter flavor.  Magnesium is lastly a constituent of the chlorophyll found in green plants and is necessary in the diet of animals and humans.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/m/magnesiu.asp

What is it's Natural Abundance?

Abundance ppb by weight ppb by atoms
Universe 600000 30000
Sun 700000 30000
Meteorites (carbonaceous) 120000000 100000000
Crystal Rocks 29000000 25000000
Sea Water 1326000 337000
Stream 4100 170
Human 270000 70000

As said before magnesium is the eighth most common element found in the earth's crust and compared to most other elements is very common.

http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Mg/key.html

 

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