Magnesium - a bit of chemistry series Traditional Cache

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Darick: Time to start letting a few of these go. Thanks!

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Hidden : 8/17/2011
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Quick park and grab along Mockingbird Drive near 90th St. You can park on the street just a few feet from ground zero. Muggles drive by here frequently... so be aware of who may be watching before making the grab. Bring your own pen/pencil.

This is part of a series of caches all using the same container. The experiment continues... first, the container was proven to be waterproof as long as you replace the lid tightly (please do). Second, they seem to be holding up in the elements, at least for the short term. Next experiment is internal log construction... trying a more secure method of attaching the log to the lid to ensure quick and simple log extraction and to reduce maintenance issues. Let me know if you have any comments/annoyances with these containers.

************************* MAGNESIUM *************************

Atomic Number: 12

Symbol: Mg

Discovery: Recognized as an element by Black 1775; Isolated by Sir Humphrey Davy 1808 (England)

Word Origin: Magnesia, a district in Thessaly, Greece

Properties: Magnesium has a melting point of 648.8°C, boiling point of 1090°C, specific gravity of 1.738 (20°C), and valence of 2. Magnesium metal is light (one-third lighter than aluminum), silvery-white, and relatively tough. The metal tarnishes slightly in air. Finely divided magnesium ignites upon heating in air, burning with a bright white flame.

Uses: Magnesium is used in pyrotechnic and incendiary devices. It is alloyed with other metals to make them lighter and more easily welded, with applications in the aerospace industry. Magnesium is added to many propellants. It is used as a reducing agent in the preparation of uranium and other metals that are purified from their salts. Magnesite is used in refactories. Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia), sulfate (Epsom salts), chloride, and citrate are used in medicine. Organic magnesium compounds have many uses. Magnesium is essential for plant and animal nutrition. Chlorophyll is a magnesium-centered porphyrin.

Sources: Magnesium is the 8th most abundant element in the earth's crust. While it is not found free it nature, it is available in minerals including magnesite and dolomite. The metal may be obtained by electrolysis of fused magnesium chloride derived from brines and seawater.

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