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Magnesium
Electron Configuration 2,8,2
Electron Configuration [Ne] 3s2
Ground state 1S0
Atomic Volume 13.97 g/cm3
Electronegativity 1.31
Magnetic ordering Paramagnetic
Mass magnetic susceptibility 6.9 x 10-9
Molar magnetic susceptibility 1.68 x 10-10
Speed of sound 4940 m s-1
Thermal Properties
Enthalpy of Atomization 148.5 kJ mol-1 @25°C
Enthalpy of Fusion 9.04 kJ mol-1
Enthalpy of Vaporisation 127.6 kJ mol-1
Heat Capacity 24.869 J mol-1 K-1
Thermal Conductivity 156 W m-1 K-1
Thermal Expansion 24.8 μm m-1 K-1
Hardness
Brinell hardness 260 MPa
Mohs hardness 2.5
Elastic Properties
Bulk modulus 45 GPa
Poisson ratio 0.29
Shear modulus 17 GPa
Young's modulus 45 GPa
Electrical Properties
Electrical resistivity 4.4 x 10-7 Ω m
Electrical conductivity No data.
Chemical Properties
Electrochemical Equivalent 0.45341 g Ah-1
Electron Work Function 3.66 eV
Valence Electron Potential (-eV) 40
Ionization Potential  
First 7.646
Second 15.035
Third 80.143
Flammability
Flammable solid
Autoignition temp 473°C
Flashpoint 634°C (cc)
Energy Levels
Kα1 (intensity 100) 1.2536 KeV
Kα2 (intensity 0) 1.2536 KeV
Kβ1 (intensity 1) 1.3022 KeV
Atomic Radii
Empirical 150 pm
Bohr Radius 145 pm
Covalent Radius 130 pm
Van der Waals 173 pm
Triple covalent 127 pm
Metallic 160 pm
Ionic Radii (Å)
Charge Coordination Crystal Ionic Key
IV 0.71 0.57
V 0.8 0.66
VI 0.86 0.72 *
VIII 1.03 0.89 C
R, From r3 vs V plots.
C, Calculated from bond length - bond strength equations.
E, Estimated.
*, Most Reliable.
M, From Metallic Oxides.
A, Ahrens (1952) Ionic radius.
P, Pauling's (1960) Crystal Radius.
Oxidation States
Main Mg+2
Other
Ionisation Energies (kJ mol-1) show graph
M - M+ 737.7
M+ - M2+ 1450.7
M2+ - M3+ 7732.6
M3+ - M4+ 10540
M4+ - M5+ 13630
M5+ - M6+ 17995
M6+ - M7+ 21703
M7+ - M8+ 25656
M8+ - M9+ 31642
M9+ - M10+ 35461
Vapour Pressure
P (Pa) 1 10 100 1K 10K 100K
T (K) 701 773 861 971 1132 1361
Crystal Structure
Structure Hexagonal close packed
a = 320.94 pm
b = 320.94 pm
c = 521.08 pm
α = 90°
β = 90°
γ = 120°