Uses:
In Industries:
Manganese is essential and most commonly connected to steel making. Due to its cubic structure and chemical properties, manganese removes impurities such as sulfur and oxygen in steel and adds important physical properties to the metal. Manganese is used in steel to improve rolling and forging qualities as well as strength, toughness, and durability. Manganese is also used to form a number of important alloys.
Manganese is also used in dry cell batteries. The high-grade (electrolytic manganese dioxide) carries a market value of about $1,700 a ton. The demand for this high-grade manganese is growing at a rate of 5% a year.
In Medicine:
Manganese is used to manufacture vital enzymes for the metabolism of fats and proteins. Manganese can also regulate blood sugar levels and supports the immune system. It is also involved in bone development and reproduction. Manganese contains various vitamins, such as K and the B-complex group, which are also vital in the average human body.
In Plants:
Manganese is essential to plant growth and is involved in the reduction of nitrates in green plants and algae when distributed in the correct amount. Manganese is an essential trace element in higher animals, in which it aids in the action of many enzymes. A lack of manganese causes testicular atrophy while an excess of this element in plants and animals is toxic
Common or Important Compounds:
MnO is the most common compound of Manganese. While many others exist, it is difficult to name them. Most Manganese-containing compounds are either oxides or carbides (contain oxygen or carbon). The uses of such compounds are essentially the same as the ones listed on top of the page. Other compounds include pyrolusite ( found in MnO2 ), psilomelane ( BaMnMn8O16(OH)4 ), and rhodochrosite ( MnCO3 ). These compounds are used for dry cell batteries, steel manufacturing, and for the decolorizing agent in glass.