Specific weight of magnesium, properties, applications and calculation table

Magnesium is a chemical element of group 2 and a light silvery-white metal. It readily reacts with various substances, especially with oxygen at high temperatures. Magnesium is one of the common elements in the Earth's crust, but in nature it is almost never found as a pure metal and is present in minerals and compounds.

Specific weight table for magnesium

The exact specific weight of magnesium depends on metal purity, temperature and material condition. For practical calculations, a reference density of about 1.74 g/cm³ is usually used. This corresponds to a mass of about 1740 kg for 1 m³ of magnesium.

Properties of magnesium

Magnesium is a light, malleable metal with a silvery shade and metallic luster. Under normal conditions in air, it is covered by a thin protective oxide film. When strongly heated, this film breaks down and magnesium can burn with a bright white flame, forming magnesium oxide and nitride.

When working with magnesium, especially powder, shavings or fine particles, safety measures are required. Burning magnesium must not be extinguished with water, and looking at the bright flame without eye protection is dangerous. Industrial work uses special protective equipment and appropriate extinguishing agents.

The density of magnesium is about 1.738 g/cm³ at around 20 °C. The melting point of magnesium is about 650 °C, and its boiling point is about 1090 °C. Thermal conductivity at room temperature is about 156 W/(m·K).

High-purity magnesium has good plasticity and can be rolled, pressed and processed in various ways. Magnesium alloys are especially valued because they combine low weight with sufficient strength.

Applications of magnesium

Magnesium is widely used in different fields. Its main use is the production of light and ultra-light alloys, as well as use in chemical, metallurgical and special technical processes. Main applications include:

• automotive and aircraft industries, where magnesium is used for lightweight alloys;
• metallurgy, where magnesium is used as a deoxidizer, reducing agent and process component;
• production of lighting, signaling and pyrotechnic compositions;
• medicine and biology, where magnesium compounds are important for body function;
• production of some battery types and chemical power sources;
• historical and special use in flash photography and light-producing compositions.