Manganese
Atomic symbol: Mn
Atomic number: 25
Atomic mass: 54.94
Appearance: Silvery metallic solid at 25°C
Group: 7
Period: 4
Series: Transition metals
Block: d
Electron configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵ 4s²
Manganese is hard and very brittle and has similar properties to iron.
Exists in a variety of oxidation states that have distinctive colors.
Fun Fact! There would be no free oxygen on Earth without manganese: life would not exist. Manganese is essential for photosynthesis, the process that produces free oxygen.