Discovered : recognised as an element by Joseph Black of Edinburgh, UK in 1755 Isolated by Sir Humphry Davy in 1808 Origin : The element is named after Magnesia, a district of Thessaly in Greece, where it was first found. Description : A silvery white metal that can be made to burn with a bright light and was formerly used in flash bulbs. It is now used to provide lightweight frames for bicycles, car seats and luggage. The sea contains trillions of tonnes of magnesium, and this is the source of a lot of the 300,000 tonnes now produced annually. It is an essential element for all living things. Humans take in 250-350 milligrammes each day (about 4 ounces a year), and we each have about 20 grammes in our bodies (about three quarters of an ounce). Image : Eye of magnesium in the organic molecule of chlorophyll. See also Alchemical Symbols. Magnesium animation - click the icon above to launch. (Quicktime required) For more 109 Project animations click here.