Manganese

Symbol: Mn
Atomic number: 25
Category: transition metals
Group: 7
Period: 4
Block: d
Atomic weight: 54.938045 g/mol
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 13, 2
CAS number: 7439-96-5
Phase: solid
Density: 7.21 kg/dm3 (near room temperature)
Melting point: 1519 K (1246 °C, 2275 °F)
Boiling point: 2334 K (2061 °C, 3742 °F)
Crystal structure: cubic body centered
Oxidation states: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Electronegativity: 1.55 (Pauling scale)
Name's origin: manganesa
Name's meaning: an ore called magnesia negra (the black ore instead of the white one, magnesia alba) was called manganesa, and finally the metal isolated from it became known as manganese
Facts:
- is a gray-white metal, resembling iron
- is found as a free element in nature (often in combination with iron), and in many minerals
- manganese ions are variously colored, and are used industrially as pigments and as oxidation chemicals
- is an essential trace nutrient in all forms of life
- acidic permanganate solutions will oxidize any organic material they come into contact with, and the oxidation process can generate enough heat to ignite some organic substances