Manganese

From Conservapedia

Manganese
Name	Manganese
Symbol	Mn
Atomic number	25
Atomic mass	54.938 amu
Classification	Transition metal
Crystal structure	Cubic
Density	7.440 g/cm^3
Color	Silver/Gray
Number of Stable Isotopes	1
Date of discovery	1774
Name of discoverer	Johann Gahn
Name origin	From the Latin word mangnes (magnet)
Uses	Steel, batteries, ceramics, coins, fertilizer and animal feed additives
Obtained from	Pyrolusite, psilomelane, cryptomelane, manganite, rhodochrosite

Manganese is an element in the "transition metals" class of the periodic table. It is hard and brittle. It reacts (slowly) with water, and with acids.

Manganese was discovered by Johann Gahn in 1774 by heating pyrolusite with charcoal in a blast furnace.

Manganese is used in small amounts to change the propeties of steel and other useful alloys.

It is remarkable in all the other metals in that it is formed by the radioactive breakdown of magnesium isotopes, yet is still found in sufficient quantities to be useful in common, everyday processes and materials. Manganese is found in pyrolusite (magnesium) ore along with magnesium, and the two are separated in a process similar to that of iron in a blast furnace, due to their significantly different melting points (one melts and is tapped off while the other remains solid; this is then melted and tapped off). It can also be found in pure manganese ore, where all the magnesium has decomposed. These deposits, however, are scarce.