Bryce+Magnesium

History

The name for magnesium originates from the Greek word for a district in Thessaly called Magnesia. In 1618 a farmer at Epsom in England attempted to give his cows water from a well. This they refused to drink because of the water's bitter taste. However the farmer noticed that the water seemed to heal scratches and rashes.Eventually they were recognized to be hydrated magnesium sulphate, MgSO4.Sir Humphry Davy electrolytically isolated pure magnesium metal in 1808 from a mix of magnesia and HgO, and A. A. B. Bussy prepared it in coherent form in 1831. Davy's first suggestion for a name was magnium, but the name magnesium is now used.