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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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M
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Magnesium
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1992-09-03
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A lightweight, very ductile and malleable,
silver-white metallic element, symbol Mg,
atomic number 12, atomic weight 24.305. It is
one of the alkaline earth metals, the
lightest of the commonly used metals. It
occurs widely distributed in silicate,
carbonate, and chloride forms. It is used in
alloys and flash photography. It is important
to human nutrition, and green plants cannot
grow without it since it is an essential
constituent of chlorophyll (C55H72MgN4O5). It
was named after the ancient Greek city of
Magnesia, near where it was first found. It
was first recognized as an element by Joseph
Black in 1755 and discovered in its oxide by
Humphry Davy in 1808. Pure magnesium was
isolated in 1828 by A A B Bussy.