Biological Importance of Magnesium and Calcium: Ca & Mg Uses

Biological Importance of Magnesium and Calcium: Human body consists of 27 elements. Calcium is the most abundant element in bone and teeth. Is there any additional function for calcium in the human body? The article Biological Importance of Magnesium and Calcium explains everything about it. In this article, you will learn the basics about magnesium and calcium, including their prevalence, uses sources, and biological significance.

Study Biological Importance of Sodium and Potassium Here

What is Magnesium?

Magnesium is a metal with the atomic number \(12\) and an atomic mass of \(24.305 \,\text {u}\). Its electronic configuration is \(2,8,2\) or \(1{{\text{s}}^2},2{{\text{s}}^2}2{{\text{p}}^6},3{{\text{s}}^2}\). Magnesium is represented by the symbol Mg. It is placed in the second group (alkaline earth metal) and in the third period on modern periodic table. It is an s-block element since the valence electron enters into the s-orbital.

Occurrence of Magnesium

Magnesium is the \(6^{\text {th }}\) most abundant element by weight, and exists in the form of carbonate, sulphate and silicates in earth’s crust. The important ores of magnesium are carnallite \(\left(\mathrm{KCl} . \mathrm{MgCl}_{2} \cdot 6 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}\right)\), dolomite \(\left(\mathrm{Mg} \mathrm{CO}_{3} \cdot \mathrm{CaCO}_{3}\right)\), epsomite \(\left(\mathrm{MgSO}_{4} .7 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}\right)\), and magnesite \(\left(\mathrm{MgCO}_{3}\right).\) It also occurs to about \(0.13 \%\) in seawater as chloride and sulphate.

Uses of Magnesium

1. In the synthesis of silicon and boron from their oxides, it is used as a reducing agent.
2. Grignard reagents, which are alkyl magnesium halides, are made with magnesium(R-Mg-X). These are organic compounds and are used in the synthesis of a large number of compounds.
3. It is employed as a deoxidiser in metallurgy and for the removal of last traces of air from radio values.
4. Magnesium ribbon, along with the barium peroxide, is used as an ignition mixture in the alumino thermite process.
5. Magnesium is a constituent of chlorophyll, which is the green pigment in plants. It plays a major role in photosynthesis, i.e., the synthesis of carbohydrates in plants in the presence of sunlight.
   

6. Magnesium is also useful in making a number of alloys like magnalium \((\mathrm{Al}, 95 \%+\mathrm{Mg}\), \(5 \%)\), electron metal \((\mathrm{Mg}, 95 \%+\mathrm{Zn}, 5 \%)\), duralumin \((\mathrm{Al}, 95 \%+\mathrm{Mg}, 0.5 \%+\mathrm{Mn}, 0.5 \%+\mathrm{Cu}, 4 \%)\).

7. Duralumin, being light in mass, is used in the construction of aircraft parts.

8. Magnesium powder or magnesium ribbon is used in flash powders and bulbs, incendiary bombs and signals.

9. Milk of magnesia is a suspension of magnesium hydroxide in water. It is used as an antacid in medicine.

10. Magnesium is used for the cathodic protection of other metals as an oxygen scavenger.

11. The compounds of magnesium, such as magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate, are used in making toothpaste.

What is Calcium?

Calcium is a metal with atomic number \(20\) and an atomic mass of \(40.078 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mol}\). Its electronic configuration is \(2,8,8,2\) or \(1{{\text{s}}^2},2{{\text{s}}^2}2{{\text{p}}^6},3{{\text{s}}^2}3{{\text{p}}^6},4{{\text{s}}^2}\). Calcium is represented by the symbol Ca. It is placed in the second group (alkaline earth metal) and the fourth period in the modern periodic table. It is an s-block element since the valence electron enters into the s-orbital.

Occurrence of Calcium

Calcium is the fifth most abundant element by weight found in the earth’s crust. It mainly occurs as \(\mathrm{CaCO}_{3}\) in the form of limestone, marble, and chalk. Other important minerals of calcium are fluorite or fluorspar \(\left(\mathrm{CaF}_{2}\right)\), fluorapatite \(\left[\mathrm{Ca}_{5}\left(\mathrm{PO}_{4}\right)_{3} \mathrm{~F}\right]\), gypsum \(\left(\mathrm{CaSO}_{4} \cdot 2 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}\right)\) and anhydrite \(\mathrm{CaSO}_{4}\).

Uses of Calcium

1. Calcium is a powerful reducing agent that is used to separate a variety of metals from their oxides.
2. Both oxygen and nitrogen in the air have a great attraction for calcium. As a result, it’s frequently used to clear air from vacuum tubes.
3. Because it does not react with alcohol, it is favoured over sodium for eliminating remnants of water from alcohol.
4. It is employed in the removal of sulphur from petroleum.
5. Compounds of calcium, such as limestone and gypsum, are used as constituents of cement and mortar.
6. Calcium alloyed with lead is used in cable coverings. 
7. Calcium alloyed with aluminium is used in casting and forging

Source of Magnesium and Calcium

Organisms need nearly \(27\) elements, of which \(15\) are metals. The metals like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium are required in major quantities, and iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, molybdenum, nickel, aluminium, etc., are also required in minimum quantity for different organisms.   

The few main sources of magnesium are whole wheat, dry fruits like almonds, cashews and peanuts, spinach, dark chocolate, black beans, avocado, yoghurt, etc.

The main sources of calcium are dairy products like milk, cheese and yoghurt, leafy vegetables, seafood, legumes, dried fruit, egg, etc.

Biological Importance of Magnesium and Calcium

Magnesium and calcium ions play important roles in biological processes. An adult body contains about \(25 \mathrm{~g}\) of magnesium and \(1200 \mathrm{~g}\) of calcium. Magnesium ions are concentrated in cells. \(\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}\) ions catalyse a number of enzymatic reactions. Energy is stored in the form of ATP by phosphate linkages. The formation of this linkage is catalysed by magnesium ions. The hydrolysis of phosphate linkages results in the release of energy. This process is also catalysed by \(\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}\) ions. \(\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}\) ions are present in chlorophyll-a, the green colouring pigment of plants, which absorbs light and is essential for photosynthesis.

About \(99 \%\) of body calcium is present in bones and teeth as hydroxyapatite, \(\mathrm{Ca}_{5}\left(\mathrm{PO}_{4}\right)_{3} \mathrm{OH}\), and the enamel on teeth as fluorapatite \(\left[\mathrm{Ca}_{5}\left(\mathrm{PO}_{4}\right)_{3} \mathrm{~F}\right] . \mathrm{Ca}^{2+}\) ions are also important in blood clotting and are required to trigger the contraction of the muscle and to maintain the regular beating of the heart.

Summary

Magnesium and calcium have a wide range of applications in different fields as well as play an important role in biological systems. In this article, Biological importance of magnesium and calcium, you are aware about the basic information like atomic number, atomic mass, electronic configuration, etc., of magnesium and calcium metals. Also, this article explained to you the importance of magnesium and calcium for the biological system, along with other general applications.

Study About Magnesium Carbonate Formula Here

FAQs

1. What is the biological importance of magnesium?
Ans: \(\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}\) ions catalyse a number of enzymatic reactions. Energy is stored in the form of ATP by phosphate linkages. The formation of this linkage is catalysed by magnesium ions. The hydrolysis of phosphate linkages results in the release of energy. This process is also catalysed by \(\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}\) ions. \(\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}\) ions are present in chlorophyll-a, the green colouring pigment of plants, which absorbs light and is essential for photosynthesis.

2. Why is calcium biologically important?
Ans: \(\mathrm{Ca}^{2+}\) ions are important in blood clotting and are required to trigger the contraction of the muscle and to maintain the regular beating of the heart. It is the major element of both bone and teeth.

3. What are the functions of calcium?
Ans: Calcium biologically places an important function in blood clotting, contraction of muscle, and in maintaining the regular beating of the heart. It is also the major element of both bone and teeth.

4. What are the effects of magnesium on the body?
Ans: \(\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}\) ions catalyse a number of enzymatic reactions. The formation of phosphate linkage in ATP and the hydrolysis of phosphate linkages results in the release of energy catalysed by \(\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}\) ions. \(\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}\) ions are present in chlorophyll-a, the green colouring pigment of plants, which absorbs light and is essential for photosynthesis.

5. Which magnesium is best for sleep and anxiety?
Ans: Magnesium helps in the relaxation of the body by activating and calming the nervous system. Magnesium glycinate is best for sleep and anxiety.

6. Give examples of sources of magnesium and calcium.
Ans: The few sources of magnesium are whole wheat, dry fruits like almonds, cashews and peanuts, spinach, dark chocolate, black beans, avocado, yoghurt, etc.
The sources of calcium are dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt, leafy vegetables, seafood, legumes, dried fruit, egg, etc.