Dictionary
mag•ne•si•um
Pronunciation: (mag-nē'zē-um, -zhum, -shē-um), [key]—
n. Chem.
a light, ductile, silver-white, metallic element that burns with a dazzling white light, used in lightweight alloys, flares, fireworks, in the manufacture of flashbulbs, optical mirrors, and precision instruments, and as a zinc substitute in batteries.
Symbol: Mg;
at. wt.: 24.312;
at. no.: 12;
sp. gr.: 1.74 at 20°C.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.