Magnesium has an interesting history. In 1618 a farmer at Epsom in England tried to give his cows water from a well. They refused to drink. The water has specific taste - bitter taste. That water was with health features. The popularity of Epsom salts spread which is used today to treat minor skin abrasions. They were identity to be magnesium sulphate - MgSO4. In 1755 was recognized magnesium as an element. First isolation was done by Davy in 1808 who find a mixture of magnesia (magnesium oxide, MgO) and mercuric oxide (HgO). After that 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. The name 'magnesium' comes from Greek word for a district in Thessaly called Magnesia. Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the earth's crust. It is found in large deposits of magnesite, dolomite and minerals, some of them in mineral waters, too. Today, magnesium can be extracted from the minerals dolomite (CaCO3.MgCO3) and carnallite (KCl.MgCl2.6H2O), but is most often obtained from seawater.
We know that magnesium burns with a brilliant white light. That was good reason for its using in photography and pyrotechnics nowadays. Magnesium is the lightest metal that can be used to build things, although its use as a structural material is limited since it burns at relatively low temperatures. When magnesium and aluminum alloyed people can used that mixture in airplanes, missiles and rockets, horseshoes, baseball catchers' masks, snowshoes and others.
Magnesium has many history applications which go through nowadays, too. In metallurgy we know about high-grade magnesium wheels and a great Corvette designed for racing in 1957 was constructed with magnesium body panels. Volkswagen has used magnesium in its engine components for many years. For a long time, Porsche used magnesium alloy for its engine blocks due to the weight advantage. There are more application of magnesium metal which you can find at 'application' section.