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Compare Magnesium vs Strontium

Comparing Magnesium (Mg) and Strontium (Sr). Atomic numbers 12 and 38 with atomic masses 24.304 u and 87.621 u, classified as alkaline earth metal and alkaline earth metal. Below: a side-by-side comparison of their physical, atomic, electron-configuration and historical properties, including density, melting and boiling points, ionization energies, oxidation states and discovery history.

vs
Mg
Magnesium
#12
Sr
Strontium
#38

Periodic properties of the elements

MagnesiumStrontium
SymbolMgSr
Atomic number1238
Group22
Period35
Blockss
Element categoryAlkaline Earth MetalAlkaline Earth Metal

Physical properties

MagnesiumStrontium
Phase at STPSolidSolid
Density1.738 g/cm32.64 g/cm3
Atomic weight24.304 u87.621 u
Melting point923 K
649.85 °C
1201.73 °F		1050 K
776.85 °C
1430.33 °F
Boiling point1363 K
1089.85 °C
1993.73 °F		1650 K
1376.85 °C
2510.33 °F

Atomic properties

MagnesiumStrontium
Electronegativity (Pauling Scale)1.310.95
Electron affinity-40 kJ/mol5.023 kJ/mol
Oxidation states+1, +2
(a strongly basic oxide)		+1, +2
(a strongly basic oxide)
Ionization energies
  1. 737.7 kJ/mol
  2. 1450.7 kJ/mol
  3. 7732.7 kJ/mol
  4. 10542.5 kJ/mol
  5. 13630 kJ/mol
  6. 18020 kJ/mol
  7. 21711 kJ/mol
  8. 25661 kJ/mol
  9. 31653 kJ/mol
  10. 35458 kJ/mol
  11. 169988 kJ/mol
  12. 189368 kJ/mol
  1. 549.5 kJ/mol
  2. 1064.2 kJ/mol
  3. 4138 kJ/mol
  4. 5500 kJ/mol
  5. 6910 kJ/mol
  6. 8760 kJ/mol
  7. 10230 kJ/mol
  8. 11800 kJ/mol
  9. 15600 kJ/mol
  10. 17100 kJ/mol
  11. 31270 kJ/mol

Electron configuration

MagnesiumStrontium
Shorthand configuration[Ne] 3s2 [Kr] 5s2
Full configuration1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 5s2
Electrons per shell2, 8, 22, 8, 18, 8, 2

History

MagnesiumStrontium
DiscoveryJoseph Black (1755)William Cruickshank (1787)
First isolationHumphry Davy (1808)Humphry Davy (1808)
Named byHumphry Davy (1812)Humphry Davy (1808)
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