27. Which alkaline earth metal is a silvery white, burns the brightest white of all the metals, and in its carbonate form is used for weightlifting and rock climbing?
From Quiz The Great White Part 7: Chalky Compounds
Answer:
Magnesium
Magnesium, with the atomic number 12, is the 9th most abundant element in the universe. It is also one of the 11 essential elements in the human body, necessary for proper bone formation, protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation. Joseph Black, a Scottish physicist and chemist, discovered magnesium in 1725 and named it for the Greek district of Magnesia. The compound magnesium carbonate is the white substance used by weightlifters and rock climbers to make their hands less slippery.
Question submitted by pitegny.