Preferred term
magnesium
Is replaced by
Definition
- Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. Its common oxidation number is +2. It is an alkaline earth metal. Magnesium is the fourth-most-common element in the Earth as a whole (behind iron, oxygen and silicon), making up 13% of the planet's mass and a large fraction of the planet's mantle. Due to magnesium ion's high solubility in water, it is the third-most-abundant element dissolved in seawater. Magnesium is produced in stars larger than 3 solar masses by fusing helium and neon in the alpha process at temperatures above 600 megakelvins. It is important for the activity of many enzymes, especially those involved in oxidative phosphorylation.
Broader concept
Entry terms
- Mg
Scope note
- US LTER controlled vocabulary
Creator
- herbert.schentz@umweltbundesamt.at
URI
http://vocabs.lter-europe.net/EnvThes/USLterCV_319