element of the month Magnesium is the 9th most abundant element in the universe and the 8th in the Earth's crust, being the 3rd most abundant element dissolved in seawater (only after sodium and chlorine). It is essential to all human cells, with hundreds of enzymes requiring magnesium ions to function; it also interacts with crucial polyphosphate-containing molecules, such as ATP, DNA, and RNA. Industrially, since it is less dense than aluminium, its alloy is prized for its combination of lightness and strength. Find previous elements here.
Elements in Poetry "Gold is for the mistress, silver for the maid. Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade." "Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall. "But Iron, cold iron, is master of them all." by Rudyard Kipling