when did joseph black discover magnesium
Joseph Black recognized magnesium as an element in 1755. It was isolated by Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829) in 1808 almost 200 years after its discovery. He electrolysised mixture of magnesia (magnesium oxide, MgO) and mercuric oxide (HgO). Davy's first suggestion for a name was magnium but the name magnesium is now used.