Question

Colour of solid magnesium is:
A. dark grey
B. silvery grey
C. black
D. whitish silver

Answer 1

Hint: Magnesium is an element with symbol $\text{Mg}$ and atomic number 12. Magnesium is a metal. Metals have a bright physical appearance. Metals are shiny and lustrous. The colour of solid magnesium has the same colour as that of silver metal. The free metal magnesium burns with white-light.

Complete step by step answer:
Let us discuss the physical properties of magnesium:
(1) Density: Magnesium is lightweight metal. Its density is less than aluminium, which is ${}^{2}/{}_{3}$ of aluminium. Thus, it is used in structural alloys due to strength, resistance and lightweight properties.
(2) Colour: The presence of valence electrons present in magnesium makes it colourful. The colour of solid or elemental magnesium is grey-white or silvery grey.
(3) Boiling point and Melting point: Magnesium has the lowest boiling point and lowest melting point among its group of alkaline earth metal.

Colour of solid magnesium is silvery grey, which is option ‘b’.

Additional Information: Uses of magnesium:
(1) It is also used as a medicine. It helps in treating skin related issues and disorders like ADHD, mania and anxiety.
(2) Magnesium is used in flashbulbs. This is because magnesium burns with bright light. This also helps photographers to click photos in the dark.

Note: It belongs to group II or alkaline earth metals of the periodic table. The electronic configuration of magnesium is $\text{1}{{\text{s}}^{2}}\text{2}{{\text{s}}^{2}}\text{2}{{\text{p}}^{6}}\text{3}{{\text{s}}^{2}}$. Due to the presence of the same valence electrons, the chemical properties of the elements are the same. But, some physical properties are also the same, like, the colour of magnesium is the same as that of other elements present in its group and similar crystal structure.