magnesium

Definition

The chemical element with an atomic number of 12. It is a light, easily flammable, silvery-white alkaline earth metal.

Etymology

From New Latin magnēsium, from Ancient Greek μαγνησία (magnēsía), after Μαγνησία (Magnēsía, “Magnesia”), a region in Thessaly. Coined by British chemist Humphry Davy, as a modification of his original suggestion, magnium.

Example Sentences

• "1999, Chapter 1 "Barrens" Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson The building looked only like a wall glowing in the firelight, but sometimes a barrage of magnesium blue light made its windowframes jump out of the darkness."
• "A sample of carbon removed from the ocean in the solid form of calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide from UCLA's SeaChange program -- now known as Equatic -- in 2023."

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