Compare Magnesium vs Calcium: Periodic Table Element Comparison Table and Properties

Compare the elements Magnesium and Calcium on the basis of their properties, attributes and periodic table facts. Compare elements - Magnesium and Calcium comparison table side by side across over 90 properties. All the elements of similar categories show a lot of similarities and differences in their chemical, atomic, physical properties and uses. These similarities and dissimilarities should be known while we study periodic table elements. You can study the detailed comparison between Magnesium vs Calcium with most reliable information about their properties, attributes, facts, uses etc. You can compare Mg vs Ca on more than 90 properties like electronegativity, oxidation state, atomic shells, orbital structure, Electronaffinity, physical states, electrical conductivity and many more. This in-depth comparison helps students, educators, researchers, and science enthusiasts understand the differences and similarities between Magnesium and Calcium.

Magnesium and Calcium Comparison

12 Mg - Magnesium | SchoolMyKids12 Mg Magnesium Electron Shell Structure | SchoolMyKids

Magnesium
12 - Mg

VS
20 Ca - Calcium | SchoolMyKids20 Ca Calcium Electron Shell Structure | SchoolMyKids

Calcium
20 - Ca

Swap Calcium vs Magnesium
Periodic Table Element Comparison

Here's a detailed comparison between Magnesium (Mg) and Calcium (Ca), focusing on their position in the periodic table, physical and chemical properties, stability, and uses.

Facts - Basic Element Details

NameMagnesiumCalcium
Atomic Number1220
Atomic SymbolMgCa
Atomic Weight24.305 40.078
Phase at STPSolid Solid
ColorSilver Silver
Metallic ClassificationAlkaline Earth Metal Alkaline Earth Metal
Group in Periodic Tablegroup 2group 2
Group Nameberyllium familyberyllium family
Period in Periodic Tableperiod 3 period 4
Block in Periodic Tables -blocks -block
Electronic Configuration[Ne] 3s2 [Ar] 4s2
Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell)2, 8, 22, 8, 8, 2
Melting Point923 K1115 K
Boiling Point1363 K1757 K
CAS NumberCAS7439-95-4 CAS7440-70-2
Neighborhood ElementsNeighborhood Elements of MagnesiumNeighborhood Elements of Calcium

History

ParameterMagnesiumCalcium
HistoryThe element Magnesium was discovered by J. Black in year 1755 in United Kingdom. Magnesium derived its name from Magnesia, a district of Eastern Thessaly in Greece.The element Calcium was discovered by H. Davy in year 1808 in United Kingdom. Calcium derived its name from the Latin calx, meaning 'lime'.
DiscoveryJ. Black (1755)H. Davy (1808)
IsolatedH. Davy (1808)H. Davy (1808)

Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us

Parts per billion (ppb) by weight / by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %)

PropertyMagnesiumCalcium
Abundance in Universe600000 / 3000070000 / 2000
Abundance in Sun700000 / 3000070000 / 2000
Abundance in Meteorites120000000 / 10000000011000000 / 5200000
Abundance in Earth's Crust29000000 / 2500000050000000 / 26000000
Abundance in Oceans1326000 / 3370004220 / 650
Abundance in Humans270000 / 7000014000000 / 2200000

Crystal Structure and Atomic Structure

PropertyMagnesiumCalcium
Atomic Volume13.984 cm3/mol25.857 cm3/mol
Atomic Radius145 pm194 pm
Covalent Radius130 pm174 pm
Van der Waals Radius173 pm231 pm

Atomic Spectrum - Spectral Lines

Emission SpectrumEmission Spectrum of Magnesium | SchoolMyKidsEmission Spectrum of Calcium | SchoolMyKids
Absorption SpectrumAbsorption Spectrum of Magnesium | SchoolMyKidsAbsorption Spectrum of Calcium | SchoolMyKids
Lattice Constant320.94, 320.94, 521.08 pm558.84, 558.84, 558.84 pm
Lattice Angleπ/2, π/2, 2 π/3π/2, π/2, π/2
Space Group NameP63/mmc Fm_ 3m
Space Group Number194 225
Crystal Structure

Simple Hexagonal

12 Mg Magnesium - Crystal Structure | SchoolMyKids

Face Centered Cubic

20 Ca Calcium - Crystal Structure | SchoolMyKids

Atomic and Orbital Properties

PropertyMagnesiumCalcium
Atomic Number1220
Number of Electrons (with no charge)1220
Number of Protons1220
Mass Number24.30540.078
Number of Neutrons1220
Shell structure (Electrons per energy level)2, 8, 22, 8, 8, 2
Electron Configuration[Ne] 3s2 [Ar] 4s2
Valence Electrons3s2 4s2
Oxidation State22
Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers)1S0 1S0
Shell structure12 Mg Magnesium Electron Shell Structure | SchoolMyKids20 Ca Calcium Electron Shell Structure | SchoolMyKids

Isotopes and Nuclear Properties

Magnesium has 3 stable naturally occuring isotopes while Calcium has 5 stable naturally occuring isotopes.

ParameterMagnesiumCalcium
Known Isotopes19Mg, 20Mg, 21Mg, 22Mg, 23Mg, 24Mg, 25Mg, 26Mg, 27Mg, 28Mg, 29Mg, 30Mg, 31Mg, 32Mg, 33Mg, 34Mg, 35Mg, 36Mg, 37Mg, 38Mg, 39Mg, 40Mg34Ca, 35Ca, 36Ca, 37Ca, 38Ca, 39Ca, 40Ca, 41Ca, 42Ca, 43Ca, 44Ca, 45Ca, 46Ca, 47Ca, 48Ca, 49Ca, 50Ca, 51Ca, 52Ca, 53Ca, 54Ca, 55Ca, 56Ca, 57Ca
Stable IsotopesNaturally occurring stable isotopes:

24Mg, 25Mg, 26Mg

Naturally occurring stable isotopes:

40Ca, 42Ca, 43Ca, 44Ca, 46Ca

Neutron Cross Section 0.063 0.43
Neutron Mass Absorption 0.0001 0.00037

Chemical Properties: Ionization Energies and electron affinity

PropertyMagnesiumCalcium
Valence or Valency2 2
Electronegativity1.31 Pauling Scale1 Pauling Scale
Oxidation State22
Electron Affinity0 kJ/mol2.37 kJ/mol
Ionization Energies
1st: 737.7 kJ/mol
2nd: 1450.7 kJ/mol
3rd: 7732.7 kJ/mol
4th: 10542.5 kJ/mol
5th: 13630 kJ/mol
6th: 18020 kJ/mol
7th: 21711 kJ/mol
8th: 25661 kJ/mol
9th: 31653 kJ/mol
10th: 35458 kJ/mol
11th: 169988 kJ/mol
12th: 189368 kJ/mol
1st: 589.8 kJ/mol
2nd: 1145.4 kJ/mol
3rd: 4912.4 kJ/mol
4th: 6491 kJ/mol
5th: 8153 kJ/mol
6th: 10496 kJ/mol
7th: 12270 kJ/mol
8th: 14206 kJ/mol
9th: 18191 kJ/mol
10th: 20385 kJ/mol
11th: 57110 kJ/mol
12th: 63410 kJ/mol
13th: 70110 kJ/mol
14th: 78890 kJ/mol
15th: 86310 kJ/mol
16th: 94000 kJ/mol
17th: 104900 kJ/mol
18th: 111711 kJ/mol
19th: 494850 kJ/mol
20th: 527762 kJ/mol

Physical Properties

Calcium (1.55 g/cm³) is less dense than Magnesium (1.738 g/cm³). This means that a given volume of Magnesium will be heavier than the same volume of Calcium. Magnesium is about 12.1 denser than Calcium

PropertyMagnesiumCalcium
Phase at STPSolid Solid
ColorSilver Silver
Density1.738 g/cm31.55 g/cm3
Density (when liquid (at melting point))1.584 g/cm31.378 g/cm3
Molar Volume13.984 cm3/mol25.857 cm3/mol

Mechanical and Hardness Properties

PropertyMagnesiumCalcium

Elastic Properties

Young Modulus45 20
Shear Modulus17 GPa7.4 GPa
Bulk Modulus45 GPa17 GPa
Poisson Ratio0.29 0.31

Hardness - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element

Mohs Hardness2.5 MPa1.75 MPa
Vickers Hardness- -
Brinell Hardness260 MPa167 MPa

Thermal and Electrical Conductivity

PropertyMagnesiumCalcium

Heat and Conduction Properties

Thermal Conductivity160 W/(m K)200 W/(m K)
Thermal Expansion0.0000082 /K0.0000223 /K

Electrical Properties

Electrical Conductivity23000000 S/m29000000 S/m
Resistivity 4.4e-8 m Ω3.4e-8 m Ω
Superconducting Point- -

Magnetic and Optical Properties

PropertyMagnesiumCalcium

Magnetic Properties

Magnetic TypeParamagnetic Paramagnetic
Curie Point- -
Mass Magnetic Susceptibility6.9e-9 m3/kg1.38e-8 m3/kg
Molar Magnetic Susceptibility1.68e-10 m3/mol5.531e-10 m3/mol
Volume Magnetic Susceptibility0.000012 0.00002139

Optical Properties

Refractive Index- -

Acoustic Properties

Speed of Sound4602 m/s3810 m/s

Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics

PropertyMagnesiumCalcium
Melting Point923 K1115 K
Boiling Point1363 K1757 K
Critical Temperature- -
Superconducting Point- -

Enthalpies

Heat of Fusion8.7 kJ/mol8.54 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization128 kJ/mol155 kJ/mol
Heat of Combustion-668 J/(kg K)-990 J/(kg K)

Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines

ParameterMagnesiumCalcium
CAS NumberCAS7439-95-4 CAS7440-70-2
RTECS Number- -
DOT Hazard Class4.1 4.2
DOT Numbers{1869,1418} 1855
EU Number- -
NFPA Fire Rating1 1
NFPA Health Rating0 3
NFPA Reactivity Rating1 2
NFPA Hazards- Water Reactive
AutoIgnition Point472 °C-
Flashpoint500 °C-

Compare Magnesium and Calcium With Other Elements

Compare Magnesium and Calcium with other elements of the periodic table. Explore howMagnesium and Calcium stack up against other elements of the periodic table. Use our interactive comparison tool to analyze 90+ properties across different metals, non-metals, metalloids, and noble gases. Understanding these differences is crucial for applications in engineering, chemistry, electronics, biology, and material science.

Compare Magnesium with all Group 2 elements

Compare Magnesium with all Period 3 elements

Compare Magnesium with all Alkaline Earth Metal elements

Compare Calcium with all Group 2 elements

Compare Calcium with all Period 4 elements

Compare Calcium with all Alkaline Earth Metal elements