Who Discovered Magnesium? A Scientific Look at Magnesium

Who Discovered Magnesium?

• 1755 – Magnesium was first recognized as an element by Scottish chemist and physicist Joseph Black. He was the first to distinguish magnesium oxide (MgO) from calcium oxide (CaO). ((Royal Society of Chemistry – Magnesium))
• 1808 – English chemist Sir Humphry Davy first isolated magnesium by electrolysis on magnesium oxide. ((Royal Society of Chemistry – Magnesium))
• 1831 – French scientist Antoine Bussy was the first to isolate magnesium in large quantities by reacting magnesium chloride with potassium. ((Royal Society of Chemistry – Magnesium))

Joseph Black Recognizes Magnesium as an Element

Before Black’s “discovery” in 1755, magnesium and calcium were considered the same substance. However, in his paper “Experiments Upon Magnesia Alba, Quicklime, and Some Other Substances,” Black noted that the two differed. ((Chemicool – Discovery of Magnesium))

Although he is credited for first recognizing Magnesium as an element, he is best known for the concept of latent heat, the discovery of bicarbonates, and the rediscovery of carbon dioxide. ((Britannica.com – Joseph Black – British Scientist))

Sir Humphry Davy Isolates Magnesium from Compounds

Sir Humphry Davy took his experiment on magnesium past just recognizing magnesium as an element. He successfully isolated an impure form of magnesium through the electrolysis of magnesia and mercury oxide using a simple electrical battery. ((Royal Society of Chemistry – On This Day – June 30: Sir Humphry Davy announced the discovery of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), and barium (Ba) on this day in 1808))

Davy is credited with isolating several elements from their compounds in addition to magnesium, including calcium, strontium, and barium. ((Royal Society of Chemistry – On This Day – June 30: Sir Humphry Davy announced the discovery of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), and barium (Ba) on this day in 1808))

Antoine-Alexandre-Brutus Bussy Isolates Pure Magnesium

French chemist Antoine Bussy was the first to isolate magnesium in quantity and a pure form by heating magnesium chloride and potassium in a glass tube. He then washed out the potassium chloride to find the single element magnesium remained. ((Chemistry – LibreTexts – The Alkaline Earth Elements))