magnesium (Mg)

Term: magnesium

Literally meaning: "pertaining to Magnesia"

Origin: Anc Greek

 The term derived from Greek toponym (now prefecture) Magnesia as Manganese and Magnesium were abundant in ores in this region (Magnitis lithos, Μαγνήτις λιθος). The name Μαγνησια (Magnesia) derives from the name of the first settlers in the region, the "Magnetes" from the Macedonian tribe name Magnetes (Μαγνήτες) .  The region of Magnesia also contained large amounts of magnetized ores. That explains why the different terms of magnesium as well as magnet  are derived from Magnesia, although magnesium is not magnetic.

Coined/History

Magnesium was discovered by Scotish chemist Joseph Black (1728-1799) in 1755 when he noticed that magnesium is a discrete element as until then magnesium and calcium were thought to be the same substance. Sir Humphry Davy in 1808 isolated magnesium electrolysing a mixture of magnesia and mercuric oxide suggesting the name “magnium”.

  

Definition:

Μagnesium is a mineral element with chemical symbol Mg, atomic number 12 which involved in many enzymic reactions in the human body as also as cofactor in chlorophyll.   

comment:

The region of Magnesia also contained large amounts of magnetized ores. That explains why the different terms of magnesium as well as magnet  are derived from Magnesia, although magnesium is not magnetic.